[afro-nets] Roche to Transfer ARV Technology

[Leela McCullough <leela@healthnet.org>]

Roche to Transfer Technology for Protease Inhibitor Saquinavir
to Drug Companies in Developing Countries
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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?category=24Generic

13 Jan 2006 - 20pm (UK)

Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company Roche on Thursday an-
nounced it will offer generic drug companies in developing coun-
tries assistance in producing the protease inhibitor saquinavir
under its Technology Transfer Initiative, Reuters reports
(Reuters, 1/12). The technology transfer for saquinavir -- which
is recommended by the World Health Organization as a second-line
HIV/AIDS treatment in resource-poor countries -- will be avail-
able for drug makers in 63 developing nations, according to a
Roche release (Roche release, 1/12). About 69% of HIV-positive
people worldwide live in countries covered under Roche's Tech-
nology Transfer Initiative, Dow Jones reports (Dow Jones, 1/12).
"We want to use the knowledge we have developed to help
strengthen local manufacturing capability and hope to help as
many manufacturers as possible in these hardest-hit countries by
sharing our knowledge, so that they can learn and benefit from
our technology," Roche CEO William Burns said. The company plans
to have a fully operational team to handle requests by the sec-
ond quarter of 2006. The team will be based in Africa and at the
company's headquarters in Switzerland (Roche release, 1/12).

--
Leela McCullough, Ed.D.
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