Aurobindo Pharma signs licensing pact with Merck to supply generic HIV drug in 129 countries

Pharma company Aurobindo Pharma Ltd on Friday (July 24) said it has signed a non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with MSD (trade name of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA) to manufacture and supply generic alimatravir for 129 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The company said it is among a select group of global generic manufacturers to sign the agreement.

Under the royalty-free licensing arrangement, Aurobindo Pharma will be permitted to manufacture and supply generic alimatravir across the 129 eligible countries, subject to applicable regulatory approvals and requirements. The company said these markets account for the majority of new HIV diagnoses globally.

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According to the filing, the licensing agreements have been executed before the completion of Phase 3 trial enrolment, which it described as a first in HIV prevention.

Aurobindo Pharma said the early execution of the agreement is intended to enable the required scale-up of manufacturing. The company will manufacture and supply generic alimatravir that meets internationally recognised standards following regulatory approvals.

Umesh K, Associate President and Head – Global Access & Licensing, said, "At Aurobindo Pharma, expanding access to high-quality, affordable medicines remains central to our purpose. Our collaboration with MSD reflects our continued commitment to partnering with innovators to accelerate equitable access to potential new therapies.

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Through this voluntary licensing agreement, we look forward to making alimatravir available across eligible low- and middle-income countries, subject to successful development and regulatory approvals, helping strengthen global efforts towards HIV prevention."

Gregg Szabo, senior vice president, Global HIV Marketing, MSD, said, "We are pleased to be working with Aurobindo and the other manufacturers involved in these voluntary licensing agreements to manufacture generic alimatravir in 129 LMICs, if approved.

We hope this early action will help stakeholders across the HIV response begin planning for the scale-up needed to reach people who could benefit from HIV prevention, following the necessary regulatory approvals."

Shares of Aurobindo Pharma Ltd ended at ₹1,530.60, down by ₹6.70, or 0.44%, on the BSE.

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