UN-backed body sub-licenses new HIV product to 5 Indian firms

United Nations-backed Medicines Patent Pool has inked pacts with five Indian pharma firms to allow generic manufacture to increase access to new HIV product.
Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) has announced six new sub- licences with domestic firms Aurobindo, Cipla, Emcure, Hetero Labs, Laurus Labs and Chinese company Desano to allow generic manufacture of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) for 112 developing countries, Cipla said in a joint statement.
Commenting on the development, MPP Executive Director Greg Perry said: "The generic companies will begin development plans for a promising, new HIV product simultaneous with the US Food and Drug Administration's review to expedite access to low and middle-income countries once the medicine is approved."

MPP's announcement comes a day after Gilead released positive results on two of its TAF Phase III studies, suggesting that the medicine has the potential to play a large role in the international community's efforts to scale-up HIV treatment, it added.
In studies, TAF has demonstrated comparable antiviral efficacy to that of 300 milligramme tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), a World Health Organisation-preferred HIV therapy but at a dose that is 10 times lower, the statement said.
The smaller milligramme dose may also allow lower production costs, as well as greater ease in developing new fixed-dose combinations and single tablet regimens, it added.

Cipla MD & Global CEO Subhanu Saxena said it was the company's second agreement with MPP for TAF.

"Cipla has been committed to the cause of HIV/AIDS for over two decades and this agreement emphasises our ongoing commitment to provide advanced and effective treatments," Saxena said.
With the agreements announced today, MPP will be managing 42 sub-licensing projects for the development of a range of ARVs for both children and adults, the statement said.
"With this agreement Aurobindo will be collaborating with the MPP on seven HIV medicine development programmes," Aurobindo Formulations Chief Executive Officer Arvind Vasudeva said.
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.

Using innovative financing, UNITAID focuses on increasing funding for greater access to treatments and diagnostics for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in low-income countries.