Four Additional AIDS Technology Transfers

Roche Engages in Four Additional AIDS Technology Transfers to Strengthen
Local Manufacturing

Roche today announced that it has
entered into four new technology transfers with local manufacturing
companies
in African and Asian nations where improvements in access to anti-retroviral
therapy are needed. These companies are Regal Pharmaceuticals in Kenya, CAPS
Holdings in Zimbabwe, Shelys Pharmaceuticals in Tanzania and Beximco
Pharmaceuticals Ltd in Bangladesh. As part of Roche's Technology Transfer
Initiative, these companies will be provided free of charge with the
technical
expertise to manufacture generic HIV medicine, based upon the processes to
produce saquinavir, Roche's second line(1) HIV medicine.
Since the launch two years ago, Roche has signed Technology Transfer
agreements with a total of nine companies across sub-Saharan Africa and in
Least Developed Countries in other parts of the world. Roche also has
received
similar requests from a total of 35 manufacturers in 15 eligible countries,
including Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. Roche will continue to work
with
these individual applicants to assess production capabilities.
William M. Burns, CEO Division Roche Pharma, said, "these new agreements
highlight the ongoing contribution that our Roche Technology Transfer
Initiative is making to help strengthen and expand local manufacturing
capabilities for HIV medicines in resource-limited countries. With more
local
manufacturers now looking to scale-up production of essential medicines, the
continued uptake of this initiative highlights Roche as an innovative leader
in supporting sustainable solutions to improve HIV healthcare where it is
needed most."
In addition to these four new agreements, Roche has expanded the
Technology Transfer Initiative with training seminars for local
manufacturers
across sub-Saharan Africa and the world's Least Developed Countries. These
sessions focus on the development of improved manufacturing processes and
provide a forum for Roche to share its knowledge and experience with those
who
have access to fewer resources. The knowledge gained by local manufacturers
enables them to strengthen their manufacturing capability and increase
manufacturing knowledge on the production of medicines beyond HIV.
Krishna Karnataki, General Manager GMP & Formulations of Shelys
Pharmaceuticals in Tanzania, commented, "the practical support that Roche
has
provided has been a great learning experience for my team, enabling us to
make
improvements to our entire technical and quality systems. We have been
enthused by this partnership and are eager to work with Roche on this
initiative to help meet the needs of our people suffering from HIV
infections,
and improve availability of these badly needed medications."
Roche's dedicated team will work onsite at manufacturing facilities at
all
four locations and from its headquarters in Switzerland to undertake the
technology transfers. The companies will be able to produce saquinavir for
supply throughout countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and to those defined as
Least Developed by the United Nations, due to Roche's policy of not filing
patents on antiretroviral medicines in these countries.
About Roche's Technology Transfer Initiative
Announced in January 2006, the Roche Technology Transfer Initiative
provides local manufacturers with the technical expertise required to
produce
generic HIV medicines. Manufacturers in sub-Saharan Africa and the Least
Developed Countries wishing to produce generic saquinavir for use in these
countries will not be required to apply for a voluntary license because
Roche
has committed as part of its global policy not to enforce patents on
antiretroviral medicines within these countries. Interested manufacturers
should contact the Project Manager for the Technology Transfer Initiative at
the Roche Kenya office: info.aidstechtransfer@roche.com.
Interested local manufacturers in the following countries are invited to
contact Roche to discuss the Technology Transfer Initiative: Afghanistan,
Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Burundi,
Cambodia,
Cameroon, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad
Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kenya,
Kiribati,
Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia,
Nigeria,
Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Senegal,
Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, United
Republic of Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen,
Zambia, Zimbabwe.
About Roche's patent and pricing policy
In addition to its Technology Transfer Initiative, Roche will maintain
its
current pricing and patent policy. No patents for any of Roche medicines -
across all disease areas - will be filed in the world's Least Developed
Countries (LDCs), as defined by the UN. Roche will not file patents on new
antiretroviral medicines in LDCs or sub-Saharan Africa. Roche will not take
action in these countries against the sale or manufacture of generic
versions
of antiretroviral medicines. Generic versions of such HIV medicines can
therefore be produced in LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa without the need for a
voluntary or compulsory license. Roche makes its HIV protease inhibitors
Invirase and Viracept available at no-profit prices for direct supplies from
Roche Basel to LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: reuters.com