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MPP Signs Generic Manufacturing Licenses for HIV, HCV Drugs
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The Medicines Patent Pool announced that it has signed generic manufacturing licenses for four HIV medications and one hepatitis C virus medication, according to a press release.
“These new sub-licenses will secure greater volumes of low-cost medicines for people living with HIV and hepatitis C in low- and middle-income countries,” Greg Perry, executive director of the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), said in the release. “We look forward to working with the companies to speed delivery of these treatments to those most in need of better medical options.”
Backed by the United Nations, MPP seeks to increase access to HIV, hepatitis C and tuberculosis treatments for patients in lower-income countries. It does so by partnering with industry, patient groups, civil society and international organizations to license needed medications as a way to stimulate the generic manufacture and development of new formulations. The MPP now has nine sub-licensing agreements to manufacture generic versions of WHO-priority HIV and HCV drugs, the release said.
The MPP has signed two sub-licenses with Aurobindo, one to produce lopinavir and ritonavir, both second-line antiretrovirals, for Africa, after reaching an agreement with AbbVie for its Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir) in December. Aurobindo also will produce a generic version of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Daklinza (daclatasvir), a direct-acting antiviral for HCV.
“We are very pleased to support product development of these key medicines for both HIV and hepatitis C,” Narayanan Govindarajan, managing director of Aurobindo, said in the release, hoping “to bring formulations and fixed-dose combinations to market very soon.”
Laurus, Lupin and Zydus Cadila also signed sub-licenses for daclatasvir. In addition, Desano and Emcure signed licenses for lopinavir and ritonavir, Hetero signed sub-licenses for the second-line antiretrovirals atazanavir (Reyataz, Bristol-Myers Squibb) and pediatric raltegravir (Isentress, Merck), and Lupin also signed a license for pediatric raltegravir.