Roche announces Aids technology transfer agreements

As part of its ongoing commitment to improving the local production of HIV treatments in Africa, Roche has announced the signing of agreements to transfer this manufacturing technology free of charge.

The firm has agreed to give this technology to Addis Pharmaceutical Factory in Ethiopia and Varichem Pharmaceuticals in Zimbabwe, while noting that further exploratory talks are to be held with other drug manufacturers in the region.

Under the terms of these deals, Roche will supply the companies with guidance and technical expertise to facilitate the manufacture of generic forms of the company’s second line HIV drug – saquinavir.

William M Burns, chief executive officer of the pharmaceutical division of Roche, said: “These new agreements highlight the positive contribution that the technology transfer initiative is making to help strengthen and expand local manufacturing capabilities for HIV medicines in Africa.”

He added that this initiative underlines the company’s dedication to exploring long-term solutions for the provision of healthcare in poorer countries worldwide, with these latest deals showing Roche to be a world-leader in the delivery of sustainable HIV-healthcare to high-need parts of the world.

Earlier this month, the diagnostics division of Roche announced the approval of its fully automated Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 test in the US.