Chinese Drug Maker To Supply Ingredients for Generic Drugs To Be Distributed Through Clinton Foundation in India, Africa
The Clinton Foundation this week announced it has reached an agreement with Chinese pharmaceutical company Mchem Pharma Group for the company to supply discounted chemical ingredients to generic drug manufacturers so they can produce antiretroviral drugs to be distributed in Africa and India by the foundation, the Wall Street Journal reports. The agreement requires Mchem to provide active pharmaceutical ingredients to generic drug companies Aspen Pharmacare of South Africa and Cipla, Hetero Drugs, Matrix Laboratories and Ranbaxy Laboratories, all of India. Mchem initially will provide enough ingredients to produce treatments for about 400,000 people annually, the foundation said, adding that the treatment target will increase over time. The agreement also requires Mchem to export manufactured antiretrovirals listed by the World Health Organizationas approved medications for HIV/AIDS patients as long as the drugs meet WHO and FDA quality and production specifications and conform with national and international intellectual property laws, according to the foundation. The agreement makes Mchem the first Chinese drug maker to join the Clinton Foundation's efforts to increase access to antiretroviral treatment in developing nations (Chase, Wall Street Journal, 7/27).
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