Gilead enters agreement to develop Viread in developing countries

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., Aug. 14 - Gilead Sciences, Inc. has signed non-exclusive license agreements to provide generic versions of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (sold by Gilead under the brand name Viread) to three generic manufacturers in India.

These license agreements grant to Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., Hetero Drugs, Ltd. and Strides Arcolab, Ltd. the rights to produce and distribute generic versions of tenofovir to 95 low-income countries around the world, including India, according to a news release.

"We are pleased to have finalized agreements with Emcure, Hetero, and Strides Arcolab and anticipate granting additional licenses over time to help meet the needs of patients in the developing world. We hope that competition among multiple manufacturers will result in even lower prices for Viread in the developing world than what Gilead is currently offering," Gilead president and chief executive officer John C. Martin said in the release.

"Gilead is committed to and making every effort to increase access worldwide, particularly in resource-limited areas, where the epidemic has hit the hardest."

Foster City, Calif.-based Gilead is a biopharmaceutical company.

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