|
APN
APN
Aspen and BMS conclude strategic ARV deal
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited
Registration No. 1898/000252/06
Share Code: APN
ISIN: ZAE000066692
Press Release
Aspen One
February 15, 2006
Aspen and BMS conclude strategic ARV deal
New York - JSE listed Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited (APN), Africa"s largest
pharmaceutical manufacturer and the largest generic manufacturer in the southern
hemisphere, has signed a non-exclusive license and technology transfer
collaboration agreement with New York based Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) for the
manufacture and distribution of a generic version of Atazanavir, a new
generation anti-retroviral (ARV).
BMS selected Aspen through a bidding process as one of only two pharmaceutical
manufacturers globally. The royalty-free, perpetuity agreement provides for the
manufacture and distribution of Aspen Atazanavir, a generic version of
Atazanavir, to World Bank Tier 1 designated territories. This country
classification is rated according to the human development index and it equates
to some 70 countries including a number of countries outside of Africa.
Stephen Saad, Aspen Group CEO says "this initiative between a world healthcare
leader and a South African based pharmaceutical company further highlights the
confidence that global pharmaceutical manufacturers have in Aspen"s
capabilities. It is indicative of Aspen"s ability to align itself with one of
the world"s leading companies in an attempt to solve what has largely become an
African based problem. The deal is evident of Aspen"s positioning at the cutting
edge of treatments for the developing world as the group continues to strive to
ensure that ARV treatment reaches as many people as possible."
"A further advantage of this agreement is that Aspen has collaborated with
Indian-based Asterix Laboratories, of which Aspen owns 50%, for the development
of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) thereby fully integrating the
deal from base level chemicals to the finished products."
Saad said "this announcement shortly follows the State of the Union Address of
the President of South Africa, in which President Mbeki confirmed that South
Africa has one of the largest ARV treatment programmes in the world. This
initiative with BMS will assist in broadening access to resource limited
communities in the South Africa programme and beyond the boarders of South
Africa."
Aspen Two Last
"This agreement builds on Bristol-Myers Squibb"s long-standing commitment to the
global fight against AIDS," said Peter R. Dolan, Chief Executive Officer,
Bristol-Myers Squibb. "In Sub-Saharan Africa, where the HIV/AIDS pandemic has
been especially devastating, we"ve taken a broad-based approach to addressing
the AIDS crisis, including providing our AIDS medicines at no profit prices and
committing to ensure our patents do not prevent inexpensive treatment in the
region. With this new agreement, we"re taking our commitment to the next
level, by expanding access to our newest antiretroviral in sub-Saharan Africa,
where HIV/AIDS is a significant and growing public health challenge."
"Aspen has remained committed to expanding access to HIV medicines in sub-
Saharan Africa, where millions are suffering with the disease." said Stephen
Saad. "We are pleased to be part of this innovative agreement, and have already
begun the steps needed to get Atazanavir to the patients in sub-Saharan Africa
who so desperately need it."
Saad says "the addition of Aspen Atazanavir further boosts Aspen"s already
significant basket of ARVs. It provides broader global access to ARVs to meet
the healthcare needs of some 4 million HIV/Aids positive Africans of which an
estimated 10% are presently receiving treatment. Primary advantages of
Atazanavir include it being a new generation ARV providing significant
improvement over existing therapies, and that it is taken orally once daily.
With ARV molecules continually being refined, available data confirms that
Atazanavir has an enhanced efficacy and safety profile compared to other ARV
molecules. Atazanavir is also a United States Food and Drug Administration
dossier which further complements Aspen"s strategy to manufacture ARVs for
President Bush"s US$15 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR)
programme.
The product will be produced at Aspen"s world class oral solid dosage (OSD)
facility which has been accredited by the US FDA for the manufacture of co-
packed generic ARVs. This deal enables Aspen to access existing data, fulfil the
technology transfer, register the product through the South African Medicines
Control Council and start manufacturing Aspen Atazanavir locally.
\ends
Issued by: Shauneen Beukes, Shauneen Beukes Communications
Tel: (012) 661-8467 : Cell: 082 389 8900
On Behalf Of: Stephen Saad, Aspen Holdings Group CEO
Tel: (031) 580-8602 : Cell: 083 303 4833
Stavros Nicolaou, Aspen Senior Executive
Cell: 082 458 3135 (presently in New York)
Johannesburg : February 15, 2005
Sponsor: Investec Bank Limited
Date: 16/02/2006 07:51:07 AM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
|
|