US bio-pharma firm Gilead Sciences in pact with four Indian cos

HYDERABAD: As part of its plan to expand access of affordable medicines to treat HIV/AIDS in the developing world, US-based bio-pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences on Tuesday entered into new licensing pacts with four Indian firms, including Ranbaxy Laboratories, for three drugs.

New licensing terms have been signed with Hetero Drugs, Matric Laboratories, Ranbaxy and Strides Arcolab for three anti-HIV/AIDS drugs which are currently in late-stage clinical development, Gilead said here.

These Indian partners have played an active role in treatment of HIV/AIDS patients in the developing world, it said.

The Indian firms will have the rights to manufacture and market generic equivalents of new products Elvitegravir, Cobicistat and Quad, Gilead said.

Gregg Alton, Gilead's Executive Vice-President for Corporate and Medical Affairs told media persons here that "our goal is to ensure that new Gilead HIV therapies are developed and approved, and low-cost versions are rapidly made accessible in the developing countries."

Licensing agreements are a cornerstone of Gilead's efforts to increase access to the company's therapies in the developing world.

Since 2006, when Gilead entered into licensing pacts with Indian partners, the lowest available price of Gilead anti-retroviral has dropped to USD 6.15 per patient per month, he said.

On Tuesday, more than 1.1 million patients receive Gilead HIV medication produced by Indian partners.