Dr Reddy’s Partners with Gilead to Bring HIV Drug Lenacapavir to India and 120 Countries

On October 2, 2024, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd announced that it has entered into a royalty-free, non-exclusive licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences Ireland UC. This agreement allows Dr Reddy to manufacture and sell the drug Lenacapavir in India and 120 other countries.

Lenacapavir, approved by the USFDA, is used to treat HIV-1 infections in adults who have become resistant to their current treatments. It is also being studied for use in preventing HIV (PrEP), though it is not yet approved for this purpose globally. Gilead Sciences first launched Lenacapavir, branded as Sunlenca®, in the U.S. and Europe in 2022. It is the first of its kind to target the HIV-1 capsid.

Under this agreement, Dr Reddy will manufacture Lenacapavir and distribute it in the approved countries for the treatment of HIV in patients with limited treatment options. Dr Reddy will handle the necessary steps, such as manufacturing setup, clinical studies, product registration, and market launch. If Lenacapavir is approved for HIV prevention, Dr Reddy will also be able to manufacture and market it for that use.

Deepak Sapra, Chief Executive Officer- API and Services, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., said: “Lenacapavir marks an important milestone for Dr Reddy’s in patient access and affordability for pre and post-exposure treatment of HIV. The collaboration with Gilead will help us make this latest treatment option available to patients in 120 primarily low- and lower- middle-income countries, including in India. Many of these countries have a very high disease burden of HIV. This is an important endeavour in our journey to create impact on 1.5 billion patients by 2030.”

Lenacapavir is approved in several countries to treat adults with multi-drug-resistant HIV and is used along with other antiretroviral drugs. Its use for HIV prevention is still being studied, and its safety and effectiveness for this purpose are not yet confirmed. What sets Lenacapavir apart is its ability to target multiple stages of the HIV lifecycle, unlike most antiviral drugs that focus on just one stage. 

About Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd

Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd is a global pharmaceutical company based in Hyderabad, India, founded in 1984. The company is dedicated to providing affordable and innovative medicines, guided by its mission of “Good Health Can’t Wait.” Dr Reddy offers a wide range of products and services, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), generic and branded generic medicines, biosimilars, and over-the-counter (OTC) products. 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet and is subject to changes. Please consult an expert before making related decisions.