Sanofi Teams Up with India to Make Cheap ARVs in South Africa

Under an arrangement announced Friday, French drugmaker Sanofi will partner with India’s Hetero to manufacture low-cost antiretrovirals in South Africa.

The move represents progress toward South Africa’s goal of buying 80 percent of its ARVs from local sources, said Sanofi CEO Christopher Viehbacher.

“There is a continuous supply shortage for critical medicines for HIV/AIDS. Only 50 percent of patients are able to receive treatment, and there is a real need for more locally manufactured and supplied affordable ARVs.”

To accommodate increased demand, Sanofi recently upgraded its factory north of Pretoria.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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