Aurobindo, Cipla, Viatris get license to manufacture HIV drug

31 Mar 2023 , 01:10 AM

On Thursday, the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a public health organization supported by the United Nations, has announced that it has reached sublicensing agreements with Aurobindo Pharma, Cipla, and Viatris. 

These agreements allow these pharmaceutical companies to manufacture generic versions of ViiV Healthcare’s long-acting medication used for HIV prevention. The companies that will produce the generic versions of ViiV Healthcare’s medication will be Aurobindo Pharma and Viatris, which will manufacture them in India, while Cipla will produce them in India and South Africa.

In a press release issued by the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), it was declared that sublicensing agreements for the manufacturing of generic variants of cabotegravir long-acting (LA) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have been signed with Aurobindo, Cipla, and Viatris (through its subsidiary Mylan) by MPP and ViiV Healthcare.

This is enabled by the signing of a voluntary licensing agreement for patents relating to cabotegravir LA for PrEP between ViiV Healthcare and MPP in July 2022.

These pharmaceutical firms will be able to produce, manufacture, and distribute generic models of cabotegravir LA for PrEP in 90 countries, subject to obtaining the necessary regulatory clearances, under the MPP-ViiV Healthcare agreement. 

The manufacturing of Cabotegravir LA for PrEP is more complicated, and ViiV Healthcare will provide Aurobindo, Cipla, and Viatris with technical assistance.

Cabotegravir Long Acting for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), according to ViiV Healthcare, could make a significant contribution to reducing HIV transmission by offering individuals a range of preventative options. 

Furthermore, ViiV Healthcare will provide these pharmaceutical firms with technical assistance because the production of Cabotegravir LA for PrEP is more complicated.

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