Mylan launches Sovaldi in India

Mylan Pharmaceuticals Private Limited, a subsidiary of Mylan Inc., has launched the sale of Sovaldi for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection, according to a press release.

Approximately 12 million people are chronically infected with HCV in India, according to the release, and Sovaldi (sofosbuvir, Gilead Sciences) will be available as a component of a combination antiviral treatment regimen.

“We are pleased to bring this important therapeutic advance to patients living with hepatitis C in India,” Gregg Alton, executive vice president of Corporate and Medical Affairs at Gilead Sciences, said in the release. “Today marks an important milestone in Gilead’s ongoing effort to make its hepatitis C medicines accessible to as many patients, in as many places, as quickly as possible.”

Sofosbuvir was approved to treat HCV in India in January, the first country in Asia to approve the regimen, according to a previous press release. It was announced in February by Gilead, that Mylan would be distributing the drug in India.

“Mylan has a long-standing history of partnering with Gilead to tackle key public health issues in India and around the world, beginning with expanding access to high quality, affordable HIV/AIDS antiretrovirals and now extending our partnership to include hepatitis C treatments,” Rajiv Malik, president of Mylan, said in the release. “We are proud to continue our work together with the launch of sovaldi as it supports our joint commitment to meeting the unmet medical needs of patients in India."

The FDA approved sofosbuvir in December 2013. – by Melinda Stevens

Disclosures: Alton is an employee of Gilead Sciences. Malik is an employee of Mylan Inc.