Generic drug manufacturers Aurobindo Pharma, Cipla, and Viatris will now develop, manufacture, and supply long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB LA) for HIV treatment across 133 low- and middle-income countries. This move aims to significantly expand global access to advanced HIV therapy.
ViiV Healthcare and MPP Extend Licensing Agreement
This development follows an expansion of the voluntary licensing agreement between ViiV Healthcare and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP). ViiV Healthcare, which focuses exclusively on HIV medicines and is majority-owned by GSK (with Pfizer and Shionogi as shareholders), announced the extension to cover long-acting HIV treatment, building on its earlier license for CAB LA for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
WHO Endorsement Spurs Expanded Access
As reported by The Hindu, the announcement comes in the wake of updated guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), which now recommends a combination of long-acting injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine as a treatment option for HIV. This WHO endorsement has reinforced the need for broader access to long-acting injectable regimens, especially in resource-limited settings.
Generic Makers Can Now Manufacture CAB LA for Treatment Use
As part of the extended license, Aurobindo, Cipla, and Viatris—existing license holders—can now manufacture and supply generic versions of CAB LA for use in combination with long-acting rilpivirine. This treatment targets HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg, subject to regulatory approval.
Aurobindo Pharma Commits to Expanding Access
Nithyananda Reddy, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Aurobindo Pharma, expressed the company’s commitment to making this vital treatment widely accessible and affordable. He highlighted that leveraging global supply chains will be key to scaling up distribution.
He also noted the significance of ViiV and MPP’s decision to include private markets in royalty-bearing countries, calling it a “critical step” towards expanding access across both public and private sectors.