Kenya among three African countries licensed to manufacture new HIV prevention pill
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 28 — Kenya has secured a place in an unprecedented early licensing arrangement that could allow a local pharmaceutical manufacturer to produce a new once-monthly HIV prevention…
Nairobi, Kenya, Sep 28 - In a groundbreaking move, Kenya has been granted the exclusive rights to manufacture a new once-monthly HIV prevention pill, alimatravir, before the medicine completes final clinical trials. The local pharmaceutical company Universal Corporation Limited (UCL) is among seven generic drugmakers chosen by Merck, the pharmaceutical company behind the investigational medicine, to produce or supply generic versions of alimatravir if it is proven safe and effective and receives regulatory approval.
This licensing arrangement is the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, with Aspen Pharmacare of South Africa and Uganda’s Quality Chemical Industries Limited being the other African manufacturers. Kenya joins a select group of three African countries — alongside South Africa and Uganda — set to produce the drug for African markets.
The government of Kenya sees this agreement as a significant step towards expanding domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing and strengthening local health-sector capabilities.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
