Bristol-Myers Squibb To License Antiretroviral Reyataz To Ge-
neric Drug Companies In South Africa, India
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18 Feb 2006
Bristol-Myers Squibb on Wednesday plans to announce that it will
license its antiretroviral drug Reyataz royalty-free to two ge-
neric drug companies in South Africa and India, the Wall Street
Journal reports. The deal would enable Aspen Pharmacare of South
Africa and India's Emcure Pharmaceuticals to produce and sell
the protease inhibitor Reyataz, generically known as atazanavir,
in sub-Saharan Africa (Wall Street Journal, 2/15). Under the
agreement, the two generic drug companies can set the price for
the drug, which is used in second-line HIV/AIDS drug treatments
(McNeil, New York Times, 2/15). BMS also plans to provide tech-
nical training to the two companies to show them how to manufac-
ture, test, package, store and handle the drug's active ingredi-
ent (Agovino, AP/Forbes, 2/15). Currently, second-line treat-
ments in Africa cost between $3,000 and $6,000 annually per pa-
tient, compared with $200 for first-line treatment (New York
Times, 2/15). People taking first-line antiretroviral treatment
often develop resistance within the first year and must switch
to second-line treatments, the Journal reports (Wall Street
Journal, 2/15). According to people familiar with the agreement,
it is one of the first involving a drug used in second-line
HIV/AIDS treatment (Wall Street Journal, 2/15). Under World
Health Organization guidelines, atazanavir is best taken with a
booster drug, usually Abbott Laboratories' ritonavir, according
to the New York Times. Because ritonavir must be refrigerated,
some experts say the BMS deal puts pressure on Abbott to make a
heat-stable version of ritonavir (New York Times, 2/15).
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