Ranbaxy in licensing pact with Gilead for HIV drug

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, the largest India-based pharmaceutical company, has entered into an in-licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences to promote access to high-quality, low-cost generic versions of Gilead's HIV medicine emtricitabine (FTC) in developing countries.

The in-licensing pact covers single tablet regimens containing emtricitabine, and fixed-dose combinations of emtricitabine co-formulated with other Gilead HIV medicines.

Under the agreement Gilead will transfer the technology for the manufacture of emtricitabine, together with funding to assist with investment in process improvements to reduce manufacturing costs.

World Health Organisation guidelines recommend emtricitabine, as well as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), as preferred components of first- and second-line HIV therapy.

However, cost is currently a barrier to broadening access to regimens that include emtricitabine when compared to other regimens, including widely used lamivudine (3TC)-based regimens.

The new agreements will enable Ranbaxy to produce high volumes of FTC / TDF based therapies, thereby establishing sustainable price parity to alternative regimens, Ranbaxy said in a release.