Ranbaxy to market anti-retroviral products in SA

Thursday, 17 October 2002, 19:30 IST   |    3 Comments
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NEW DELHI: Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd., one of India's top drug makers, announced Wednesday it had entered into a joint venture with a South African pharmaceutical firm to market its anti-retroviral products in the country. Ranbaxy SA, the South African arm of Ranbaxy, and Adcock Ingram will hold equal stake in the joint venture, which will exclusively sell the Indian pharmaceutical major's range of anti-retroviral products given to people who are HIV-positive. The joint venture will mark an entry for Ranbaxy into the South African anti-retroviral market, said a company statement here. Adcock Ingram will leverage its strong distribution network and leadership position in the pharmaceutical market and hospital sector to market Ranbaxy's range of anti-retroviral products, it added. Ranbaxy's select range of anti-AIDS drugs received approval from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in July 2002. Ranbaxy markets its anti-AIDS range of products in several countries including Africa. Applications for registration for most of these products have been filed with the South African Medicines Control Council, the statement said. "This (the joint venture) is a major step forward in deepening our business in South Africa and we are confident that the JV will realise a win-win situation for both the companies," said Brian Tempest, president (pharmaceuticals) of Ranbaxy. Mike Norris, CEO of Adcock Ingram, said: "HIV infections have reached unprecedented proportions. It is estimated that 40 million adults and more than 10 million orphans are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. "We've some way to go before the joint venture gets off the ground but the foundation has been established. "Next steps include the appointment of appropriately qualified and experienced people to manage the joint venture company and the completion of a business plan." South Africa ranks amongst the worst AIDS affected countries in the world with an estimated 5 million people being infected. According to Norris, HIV/AIDS can be managed cost-effectively like any other chronic disease and the health outcomes of HIV-positive patients can be improved with anti-retroviral therapy. "The key to successful health outcomes is the availability of a comprehensive range of therapies. Even though this would be low margin business, the expected volumes would contribute to business growth," he added. Adcock Ingram is a wholly owned subsidiary of South Africa's Tiger Brands, a leading food and healthcare company that is listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. Ranbaxy Laboratories sells its products in over 100 countries and has an expanding international portfolio of affiliates, joint ventures and alliances, ground operations in 25 countries and manufacturing operations in seven countries.
Source: IANS
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