Boehringer Ingelheim offers Apotex licence for nevirapine

Boehringer Ingelheim has offered Apotex a royalty-free voluntary license for the manufacturing and export to Rwanda of pharmaceutical products containing nevirapine as a treatment for HIV/Aids.

Under the terms of the offer, Apotex need not pay Boehringer Ingelheim for this license, and is permitted to extend it to other countries defined by the World Health Organisation as “developing” following the sending of a letter of intent.

Apotex may use nevirapine for the entire patent life of the product – beyond the minimum two years afforded by Canadian law – while the firm must mark all products manufactured with notice that they are to be used solely in the importing country.

Ian Mills, president and chief executive officer of Boehringer Ingelheim, said: “This licence is one part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s ongoing commitment to provide access to nevirapine in the developing world.

“If Apotex accepts the voluntary licence, it will be free to manufacture product containing nevirapine for export to the developing world to help those patients suffering from HIV/Aids.”

He added that the firm currently donates nevirapine to around 60 countries worldwide through its initiative to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother-to-child.

In May 2007, Boehringer Ingelheim announced an amendment to its licence for Viramune (nevirapine) as part of its commitments to widen access to the drug in the developing world.