Roche Engages in Four Additional AIDS Technology Transfers to Strengthen Local Manufacturing...

Roche Engages in Four Additional AIDS Technology Transfers to Strengthen Local
Manufacturing in World's Poorest Countries
- Free-of-charge expertise for factories in Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania and
Zimbabwe -

NUTLEY, N.J., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche today announced that it has
entered into four new technology transfers with local manufacturing companies
in African and Asian nations where improvements in access to anti-retroviral
therapy are needed. These companies are Regal Pharmaceuticals in Kenya, CAPS
Holdings in Zimbabwe, Shelys Pharmaceuticals in Tanzania and Beximco
Pharmaceuticals Ltd in Bangladesh. As part of Roche's Technology Transfer
Initiative, these companies will be provided free of charge with the technical
expertise to manufacture generic HIV medicine, based upon the processes to
produce saquinavir, Roche's second line(1) HIV medicine.
Since the launch two years ago, Roche has signed Technology Transfer
agreements with a total of nine companies across sub-Saharan Africa and in
Least Developed Countries in other parts of the world. Roche also has received
similar requests from a total of 35 manufacturers in 15 eligible countries,
including Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. Roche will continue to work with
these individual applicants to assess production capabilities.
William M. Burns, CEO Division Roche Pharma, said, "these new agreements
highlight the ongoing contribution that our Roche Technology Transfer
Initiative is making to help strengthen and expand local manufacturing
capabilities for HIV medicines in resource-limited countries. With more local
manufacturers now looking to scale-up production of essential medicines, the
continued uptake of this initiative highlights Roche as an innovative leader
in supporting sustainable solutions to improve HIV healthcare where it is
needed most."
In addition to these four new agreements, Roche has expanded the
Technology Transfer Initiative with training seminars for local manufacturers
across sub-Saharan Africa and the world's Least Developed Countries. These
sessions focus on the development of improved manufacturing processes and
provide a forum for Roche to share its knowledge and experience with those who
have access to fewer resources. The knowledge gained by local manufacturers
enables them to strengthen their manufacturing capability and increase
manufacturing knowledge on the production of medicines beyond HIV.
Krishna Karnataki, General Manager GMP & Formulations of Shelys
Pharmaceuticals in Tanzania, commented, "the practical support that Roche has
provided has been a great learning experience for my team, enabling us to make
improvements to our entire technical and quality systems. We have been
enthused by this partnership and are eager to work with Roche on this
initiative to help meet the needs of our people suffering from HIV infections,
and improve availability of these badly needed medications."
Roche's dedicated team will work onsite at manufacturing facilities at all
four locations and from its headquarters in Switzerland to undertake the
technology transfers. The companies will be able to produce saquinavir for
supply throughout countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and to those defined as
Least Developed by the United Nations, due to Roche's policy of not filing
patents on antiretroviral medicines in these countries.
About Roche's Technology Transfer Initiative
Announced in January 2006, the Roche Technology Transfer Initiative
provides local manufacturers with the technical expertise required to produce
generic HIV medicines. Manufacturers in sub-Saharan Africa and the Least
Developed Countries wishing to produce generic saquinavir for use in these
countries will not be required to apply for a voluntary license because Roche
has committed as part of its global policy not to enforce patents on
antiretroviral medicines within these countries. Interested manufacturers
should contact the Project Manager for the Technology Transfer Initiative at
the Roche Kenya office: info.aidstechtransfer@roche.com.
Interested local manufacturers in the following countries are invited to
contact Roche to discuss the Technology Transfer Initiative: Afghanistan,
Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia,
Cameroon, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad
Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kenya, Kiribati,
Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi,
Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria,
Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Senegal,
Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, United
Republic of Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen,
Zambia, Zimbabwe.
About Roche's patent and pricing policy
In addition to its Technology Transfer Initiative, Roche will maintain its
current pricing and patent policy. No patents for any of Roche medicines -
across all disease areas - will be filed in the world's Least Developed
Countries (LDCs), as defined by the UN. Roche will not file patents on new
antiretroviral medicines in LDCs or sub-Saharan Africa. Roche will not take
action in these countries against the sale or manufacture of generic versions
of antiretroviral medicines. Generic versions of such HIV medicines can
therefore be produced in LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa without the need for a
voluntary or compulsory license. Roche makes its HIV protease inhibitors
Invirase and Viracept available at no-profit prices for direct supplies from
Roche Basel to LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa.
About Roche
Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche), based in Nutley, N.J., is the U.S.
pharmaceuticals headquarters of the Roche Group, one of the world's leading
research-oriented healthcare groups with core businesses in pharmaceuticals
and diagnostics. For more than 100 years in the U.S., Roche has been committed
to developing innovative products and services that address prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of diseases, thus enhancing people's health and
quality of life. An employer of choice, in 2007 Roche was named Top Company of
the Year by Med Ad News and one of the Top 20 Employers (Science magazine). In
2006, Roche was ranked the No. 1 Company to Sell For (Selling Power), and one
of AARP's Top Companies for Older Workers, and in 2005, Roche was named one of
Fortune magazine's Best Companies to Work For in America. For additional
information about the U.S. pharmaceuticals business, visit our websites:
http://www.rocheusa.com or www.roche.us.
All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

Additional information
-- Roche & HIV/AIDS: www.roche-hiv.com

-- Access to Roche's medicines: www.roche.com/sus_med.htm

(1) WHO treatment guidelines for resource limited settings:
http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/guidelines/artadultguidelines.pdf

SOURCE Roche

Roche, +1-973-562-2699