India’s Ranbaxy to market AIDS drugs in Africa

NEW DELHI – India’s largest pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd said on Monday it has signed a deal to form a joint venture with South Africa’s Community Investment (CU) Holdings to sell low-cost generic AIDS drugs in Africa.

CI Holding’s Executive Chairwoman, Dr Anna Mokgokong, said the joint venture will provide Ranbaxy with new access to markets in Botswana and Namibia. Ranbaxy already has a significant presence in South Africa, where an estimated 5,1 million people are infected by HIV – the virus that causes AIDS.Ranbaxy has been providing generic antiretroviral medicines at affordable prices to AIDS-HIV affected countries, for patients who might not otherwise be able to gain access to this therapy.Its generic versions cost a fraction of the price patients pay for patented AIDS drugs.Ranbaxy will hold a 70 per cent stake in the joint venture, named Sonke Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd, that will market anti-retroviral medicines under the trademark ‘Sonke’ in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, the company said in a statement.CI Holdings, which describes itself as a black-owned company with investments in key areas of technology, logistics and health, will hold the remaining 30 per cent stake.The drugs will be distributed through the government, retail pharmacists, HIV-AIDS disease management companies and aid groups, the Ranbaxy statement said.”This arrangement will allow us to serve the afflicted patients in the African market by providing them with quality ARV medicines at affordable prices,” the statement quoted Desmond Brothers, Ranbaxy’s South Africa head, as saying.Ranbaxy’s AIDS drugs are listed as safe by the World Health Organisation.Several aid groups, including the Clinton Foundation of former US President Bill Clinton, are among its clients.- Nampa-APRanbaxy already has a significant presence in South Africa, where an estimated 5,1 million people are infected by HIV – the virus that causes AIDS.Ranbaxy has been providing generic antiretroviral medicines at affordable prices to AIDS-HIV affected countries, for patients who might not otherwise be able to gain access to this therapy.Its generic versions cost a fraction of the price patients pay for patented AIDS drugs.Ranbaxy will hold a 70 per cent stake in the joint venture, named Sonke Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd, that will market anti-retroviral medicines under the trademark ‘Sonke’ in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, the company said in a statement.CI Holdings, which describes itself as a black-owned company with investments in key areas of technology, logistics and health, will hold the remaining 30 per cent stake.The drugs will be distributed through the government, retail pharmacists, HIV-AIDS disease management companies and aid groups, the Ranbaxy statement said.”This arrangement will allow us to serve the afflicted patients in the African market by providing them with quality ARV medicines at affordable prices,” the statement quoted Desmond Brothers, Ranbaxy’s South Africa head, as saying.Ranbaxy’s AIDS drugs are listed as safe by the World Health Organisation.Several aid groups, including the Clinton Foundation of former US President Bill Clinton, are among its clients.- Nampa-AP