Ranbaxy and Gilead Sciences ink in-licensing pact to promote access to less costly HIV drugs for developing countries

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (Ranbaxy) announced today that it has entered into an in-licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. to promote access to high-quality, low-cost generic versions of Gilead’s HIV medicine emtricitabine (FTC) in developing countries – including single tablet regimens containing emtricitabine, and fixed-dose combinations of emtricitabine co-formulated with other Gilead HIV medicines. Under the new agreements Gilead will provide a technology transfer for the manufacture of emtricitabine, together with funding to assist with investment in process improvements to reduce manufacturing costs.


World Health Organization guidelines recommend emtricitabine, as well as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), as preferred components of first- and second-line HIV therapy. However, cost is currently a barrier to broadening access to regimens that include emtricitabine when compared to other regimens including widely used lamivudine (3TC) -based regimens. The new agreements will therefore enable Ranbaxy to produce high volumes of FTC/TDF based therapies, thereby establishing sustainable price parity to alternative regimens.

Commenting on the agreement Mr. Arun Sawhney, CEO & Managing Director, Ranbaxy, said, “Ranbaxy and Gilead have a strong collaboration going in the area of HIV/AIDS. We are pleased to extend this association with Gilead that will enable us to offer quality, affordable medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in the developing countries.”

Emtricitabine is marketed by Gilead under the brand name Emtriva®, and a fixed-dose combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is made available under the brand name Truvada®. Emtricitabine is also an essential component of the Quad, an investigational treatment which combines four Gilead medicines in a once-daily, single tablet regimen for the treatment of HIV.

About Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, India's largest pharmaceutical company, is an integrated, research based, international pharmaceutical company producing a wide range of quality, affordable generic medicines, trusted by healthcare professionals and patients across geographies. Ranbaxy’s continued focus on R&D has resulted in several approvals, in developed and emerging markets many of which incorporate proprietary Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) and technologies, developed at its own labs. The company has further strengthened its focus on generics research and is increasingly working on more complex and specialty areas. Ranbaxy serves its customers in over 125 countries and has an expanding international portfolio of affiliates, joint ventures and alliances, ground operations in 43 countries and manufacturing operations in 8 countries. Ranbaxy is a member of the Daiichi Sankyo Group. Through strategic in-licensing opportunities and its hybrid business model with Daiichi Sankyo, a leading global pharma innovator headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Ranbaxy is introducing many innovator products in markets around the world, where it has a strong presence. This is in line with the company’s commitment to increase penetration and improve access to medicines, across the globe. For more information, please visit www.ranbaxy.com
Sourced From: Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited