ViiV Healthcare to start production of dolutegravir in Russia

UK-based HIV/AIDS specialist company ViiV Healthcare has announced its intention to launch production of its HIV drug dolutegravir drug in Russia at the facilities of Serdix, the local subsidiary of France’s Laboratoires Servier, according to the company, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

According to data from ViiV Healthcare, which is majority-owned by UK pharma major GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) and partnered with Pfizer and Shionogi, the current situation with HIV/AIDS in Russia remains complex. This is reflected by high number of patients with HIV/AIDS diagnosis in Russia, which is estimated at 913,035 people, however, in reality, their number may exceed 1.3 million.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that only about 230,000 people living with HIV in Russia receive the needed therapy. The number of patients which are in need of treatment is large, however the Russian government is experiencing a shortage of funds for the purchase of expensive anti-HIV drugs from abroad.