Pharmacy Daily | Pfizer/GSK JV opens up pipeline

THE joint venture company between GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer for HIV drugs has announced it will open up its entire product line to generic drugmakers in an attempt to help AIDS sufferers in the world’s poorest countries. ViiV Healthcare launched last November, and combined the two companies’ HIV/AIDS businesses into a new company owned 15% by Pfizer and 85% by GSK. Under the new announcement, the entire current ViiV portfolio as well as its product pipeline will be opened up for generic makers, who will be able to obtain royalty-free voluntary licenses. The deal covers 69 countries, including all low-income and leastdeveloped nations and the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, which ViiV said accounts for about 80% of all people currently living with HIV. ViiV ceo Dominique Limet said the move would help reduce the costs of second-line treatments for HIV which will be needed as more people in poor countries develop resistance to cheaper first-line medications for the condition.

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