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Ranbaxy forms JV with CIH
By agencies
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Tuesday, 07 February 2006, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI: Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd has entered into a 70:30 joint venture (JV) with Community Investment Holdings (CIH), South Africa, to market the former's range of anti-AIDS drugs in the African sub-continent.
The products will be sold under the Sonke Pharmaceuticals brand name in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. The product delivery mechanism to the patients will be through Government tenders, retail pharmacists, HIV/AIDS disease management companies, medical aids, non-Governmental organizations and independent community treatment organizations.
According to the reports of Actuarial Society of South Africa, AIDS has been the cause of around 1.5 million deaths in South Africa and more than 5.2 million people or 11 percent of the population are living with HIV.
Commenting on the JV, Executive Chairperson of CIH, Anna Mokgokong said, CIH will enable the joint venture to access the South African market as well as make available its expertise to gain entry into the new markets of Botswana and Namibia.
At present dossiers have been submitted to the regulatory authorities of South Africa, Botswana and Namibia and the company expects approvals soon. Since 2001, Ranbaxy has been providing ARV medicines at affordable prices.
The company has already filed a range of ARVs for US FDA approvals. The World Health Organization has also included a number of Ranbaxy's ARVs in its pre-qualification list.