Cipla, Aurobindo, Emcure to supply HIV drugs for UN-backed MPP

Increased generic competition will ultimately bring prices down, says MPP executive

Three Indian pharmaceutical firms, Cipla, Aurobindo and Emcure, are among seven global companies that have signed new sub-licensing agreements with UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) for the manufacture of generic HIV medicines -- atazanavir and dolutegravir.

MPP negotiates licences with key patent holders to speed access of low-cost, generic medicines to developing countries.

Commenting on the development, MPP Executive Director Greg Perry said: "With licences signed today, four new manufacturers are joining us to speed the availability of crucial medicines, atazanavir (ATV) and dolutegravir (DTG), to developing countries."

Increased generic competition will ultimately bring prices down and increase availability to allow national treatment programmes to treat many more people in their countries, he added.

MPP had in December signed an agreement with Bristol- Myers Squibb for a licence on atazanavir. It has now signed new sub-licences with Desano, Aurobindo and Emcure for the production of low-cost atazanavir.

Similarly, it has signed four sub-licences for the manufacture of generic versions new antiretroviral dolutegravir with Laurus Labs, Micro Labs, Cipla and Mylan, three months after signing agreements with ViiV Healthcare.

Commenting on the development, Cipla Chief Medical Officer Jaideep Gogtay said: "This class of drugs brings new options for patients, has advantages over the existing drugs in terms of high efficacy and also brings down the viral loads rapidly. Access to the medicine in developing countries will make a major difference to the lives of HIV/AIDS patients living there."

Aurobindo Pharma Chief Executive Officer (Formulations) Arvind Vasudeva said the new licence would help ensure the timely introduction of generic ATV in developing countries.

"This medicine offers new options for people living with HIV who are no longer able to take their first HIV regimens and its distribution in resource-poor settings is crucial," Vasudeva added.

The Medicines Patent Pool is a United Nations-backed organisation founded in 2010 by UNITAID to increase access to HIV treatment and spur new innovation worldwide.