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India Gilead Collaborates with Three Indian Companies for Generic Versions of Viread in the Developing World
ilead Sciences Inc has signed non-exclusive license agreements to provide generic versions of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (sold by Gilead under the Gbrand name Viread(R)) to three generic manufacturers in India. These license agreements grant to Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hetero Drugs Ltd and Strides Arcolab Ltd the rights to produce and distribute generic versions of tenofovir to 95 low-income countries around the world, including India. The license agreements require that the generic manufacturers meet certain national and international regulatory standards and include a technology transfer to enable expeditious production of large volumes of high-quality generic versions of tenofovir. In addition, these agreements allow the manufacture of commercial quantities of both active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and finished product. Gilead continues to pursue license agreements with additional Indian generic manufacturers and is currently discussing with a number of Indian companies. “We are pleased to have finalized agreements with Emcure, Hetero, and Strides Arcolab and anticipate granting additional licenses over time to help meet the needs of patients in the developing world,” said John C. Martin, PhD, President and CEO of Gilead Sciences. “We hope that competition among multiple manufacturers will result in even lower prices for Viread in the developing world than what Gilead is currently offering. Gilead is committed to and making every effort to increase access worldwide, particularly in resource-limited areas, where the epidemic has hit the hardest.”
About Gilead Sciences Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative therapeutics in areas of unmet medical need. The company’s mission is to advance the care of patients suffering from life-threatening diseases worldwide. Headquartered in Foster City, California, Gilead has operations in North America, Europe and Australia. Viread is a registered trademark of Gilead Sciences Inc.
About Emcure Pharmaceuticals Emcure’s highlights are the state-of- the-art manufacturing and R&D facilities for APIs, formulations and bio-pharmaceuticals. The various strategic moves initiated over the last few years are the critical components of the company’s vision to create a global, top-notch, integrated healthcare entity in the near future.
About Strides Arcolab Established in 1990, Strides is one of India’s leading integrated manufacturers and exporter of finished pharmaceutical dosage forms, both branded and generic. It is a significant global player in soft gelatin capsules and sterile parenterals with quality standards that meet the most stringent regulated market standards. The company is among the world’s top five soft gel capsule manufacturers with plants in India and an US FDA inspected plant in the U.S.A.
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About Hetero Drugs Ltd Established in the year 1993, with the motto to be the best in the API manufacturing, Hetero embodies the vision of a top notch player in developing and commercializing products catering to a variety of therapeutic categories, integrating into a leading finished dosage manufacturer. With full-fledged marketing capabilities, the company has been able to market its products in over 80 countries in Asia, Middle-east, Eastern Europe and Latin America. With its compliance to the most stringent regulatory requirements, Hetero has gained foothold to market several of its APIs in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Contact Details: Gilead Sciences Address: 333 Lakeside Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, Tel: +1 650 574 3000 Fax: +1 650 578 9264 URL: www.gilead.com
Contact Details: Emcure Pharmaceuticals Address: Emcure House, T-184, M.I.D.C., Bhosari, Pune-411026, India Tel: +91 20 30610000 Fax: +91 20 30610100 Email: [email protected] URL: www.emcure.co.in
Contact Details: Strides Arcolab Address: Strides Arcolab Limited, Strides House, Bilekahalli, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore – 560076 India. Tel: +91 080 66580000, 66580600. Email: [email protected] URL: www.stridesarco.com
Contact Details: Hetero Drugs Ltd Address: Hetero House, H.No. 8-3-166/7/1, Erragadda, Hyderabad - 500018 AP. India Tel: +91 40 23704923 Fax: +91 40 23704926 Email: [email protected] URL: www.heterodrugs.com 894 APBN • Vol. 10 • No. 16 • 2006