Emcure AIDS drugs to come to the north

With the recent tie-up between UK-based Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pune-based Emcure Pharma, AIDS drugs will now get cheaper in India.

Emcure Pharma, which had recently launched a pharmacy for AIDS patients run by AIDS patients, has received a number of calls from the north too. This Pune-based agency provides services to AIDS patients at subsidised rates. The pharmacy is also equipped to give consultation on telephone.

The groundbreaking initiative will significantly improve Emcure Pharma's access to the newest HIV/AIDS treatment in India and sub-Saharan Africa.

The initiative includes an agreement for technology transfer and voluntary licence with generic manufacturer Emcure Pharmaceuticals for REYATAZÒ (atazanavir), the once-daily protease inhibitor for HIV/AIDS that was initially approved in the US in June 2003.

Under the agreement, Emcure will be granted a royalty-free licence to manufacture and sell atazanavir in India and sub-Saharan Africa.

This agreement grants full technology transfer to Emcure for independent manufacture and sale of atazanavir in India. This is the first time such an agreement has been reached for India. Bristol-Myers Squibb is pleased to transfer the technology for atazanavir early in the product's life-cycle to help enable long-term supply of this important HIV medicine to people living with the disease.

Bristol-Myers Squibb will transfer to Emcure its technical know-how related to the manufacturing, testing, packaging, storage and handling of the active pharmaceutical ingredient and the finished dosage form of atazanavir.

As part of this commitment, Bristol-Myers Squibb staff will provide technical training at its US manufacturing facilities for Emcure, and will also travel to Emcure's facilities in India to provide further hands-on training. In addition, Bristol-Myers Squibb will provide support for regulatory filings.

Satish Mehta, Chief Executive Officer of Emcure, said, "We at Emcure support the fight against HIV/AIDS as part of our commitment to corporate social responsibility. We are proud of this alliance with Bristol-Myers Squibb and we are committed to do everything we can to bring this life saving medicine to patients in need."

Atazanavir is sold under the brand name Reyataz® (atazanavir sulfate). Bristol-Myers Squibb obtained the first approval for the drug in the US in 2003. Reyataz® is a prescription medicine used in combination with other medicines to treat people infected with HIV. Reyataz® does not cure HIV or prevent passing HIV to others.