Gilead signs licenses with generic drugmakers for hepatitis C drugs

US biotech firm Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) today signed non-exclusive licensing agreements with seven India-based generic pharmaceutical manufacturers to expand access to its chronic hepatitis C medicines in developing countries.

The accords allow the companies - Cadila Healthcare, Cipla, Hetero Labs, Mylan Laboratories, Ranbaxy Laboratories, Sequent Scientific and Strides Arcolab - to manufacture sofosbuvir (trade name Sovaldi) and the investigational single tablet regimen of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir for distribution in 91 developing countries. The countries within the agreement account for more than 100 million people living with hepatitis C, representing 54% of the total global infected population, the company noted.

"Hepatitis C is a significant public health issue worldwide, and Gilead is working to make its chronic hepatitis C medicines accessible to as many patients, in as many places, as quickly as possible. In developing countries, large-volume generic manufacturing and distribution is widely regarded as a key component in expanding access to medicines. These agreements are essential to advancing the goals of our humanitarian program in these countries," commented Gregg Alton, executive vice president, corporate and medical affairs, at Gilead Sciences.