Aurobindo announces signing of voluntary license with Medicines Patent Pool for Cabotegravir Long Acting Injectable for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis for 90 countries including India

Aurobindo Pharma Limited (along with its subsidiaries together referred to as "Aurobindo") has announced the signing of voluntary sub-licensing with Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a UN organization, for developing and marketing Cabotegravir Tablets & Long Acting Injectables, originally developed by ViiV Healthcare, for the prevention of HIV in 90 Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC), including India.

For the generic version of Cabotegravir, Aurobindo will utilize their vertically integrated capabilities to develop in-house API manufacturing which will enable stronger control on supply chain and cost efficiencies. The tablet and injectable dosage forms of the product will be produced at the APL Healthcare Unit IV, Naidupet, India, and at the new Eugia Sterile facility, Vizag, India, respectively. The company has adequate capacities of world class standards, to meet the global demand for the product across the licensed territory.

Mr. K. Nithyananda Reddy, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Aurobindo said, "We are excited that we have been granted the voluntary license from MPP to develop, manufacture & distribute generic Cabotegravir Tablets & Long Acting Injectables in select markets. This is the first time a longer acting injectable product for prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection will be made available in the LMIC, through this license. This product will be a good addition to Aurobindo's ARV portfolio and will further strengthen our leadership in the generic HIV medicine space. We are looking forward to start supplying the product at the earliest and to help reducing the risk of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) infection in certain adults and adolescents weighing at least 35kg."

Charles Gore, Executive Director of the Medicines Patent Pool said, "We are delighted to count Aurobindo as one of the selected sublicensees to produce affordable high-quality versions of Cabotegravir long acting for PrEP. Broadening access to this innovative long-acting HIV prevention medicine could significantly contribute to ending HIV transmission by providing people with a choice in their HIV prevention options."

Cabotegravir long acting (LA) injectable suspension for HIV prevention is the first and only longer acting injectable PrEP option proven superior to daily oral FTC/TDF in reducing HIV acquisition.

Cabotegravir LA for PrEP is an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI). INSTIs, like cabotegravir extendedrelease injectable suspension, inhibit HIV replication by preventing the viral DNA from integrating into the genetic material of human immune cells (T-cells). This step is essential in the HIV replication cycle and is also responsible for establishing chronic disease.

Cabotegravir LA for PrEP is provided as an injection administered six times per year and is initiated with a single 600 mg (3-ml) injection given one month apart for two consecutive months. After the second initiation injection, the recommended continuation injection dose is a single 600 mg (3-ml) injection given every two months. Cabotegravir oral tablets may be administered for approximately one month before initiating the first injection to assess the tolerability of the medicine.

Shares of Aurobindo Pharma Limited was last trading in BSE at Rs. 509.80 as compared to the previous close of Rs. 511.30. The total number of shares traded during the day was 80146 in over 2572 trades.

The stock hit an intraday high of Rs. 513.35 and intraday low of 504.90. The net turnover during the day was Rs. 40775824.00.

Source : Equity Bulls

Keywords

AurobindoPharma INE406A01037 MedicinesPatentPool SubLicensing CabotegravirTablets LongActingInjectables ViiVHealthcare HIV