Ranbaxy arm in $134-million AIDS drug supply deal with South African government

Sonke Pharmaceuticals, the joint venture between Ranbaxy Laboratories and Community Investment Holdings, will supply the South African government with anti-retroviral (AVR) medicines worth Rand 913.5 million (about $134 million).

The pharmaceutical company will supply the government with the medicines meant for treatment of AIDS for two years, Ranbaxy said in a filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

"We are proud to be a part of the healthcare solution in South Africa, by bringing affordable ARVs and making them easily available to all people who are affected by HIV/AIDS," Anna Mokgokong, chairperson of Sonke Pharmaceuticals, said.

The South African cabinet had approved the scaling up of the HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment programme, which includes reducing the HIV infections by half by 2011-12 and providing AVR treatment to 80 per cent of South Africans living with HIV and AIDS.

"Close to three million South Africans who are living with HIV/AIDS will be on ARV treatment by 2011-12 through the government's commitment," said Sotse Segoneco of Sonke Pharmaceuticals.

The medicines will be manufactured in South Africa and at Ranbaxy facilities in India.

Earlier, the company was appointed by the government to supply generic ARVs throughout South Africa. It also provides generic ARVs to Botswana and Namibia.