Sonke Pharmaceuticals is a joint venture between Ranbaxy and Community Investment Holdings (CIH). It is the second-largest local supplier of generic anti-retroviral (ARV) medication in the country.
The SA cabinet approved the implementation plan to scale up the HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment programme that was recently presented by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, in his health budget speech in April. Dr Motsoaledi mentioned that the most important task that faces South Africa is to reduce the number of new HIV infections by 50% by 2011/12, and to provide anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment to 80% of South Africans living with HIV and AIDS.
Dr Anna Mokgokong, chairperson, of Sonke Pharmaceuticals, says: "We are proud to be a part of the health care solution in South Africa, by bringing affordable ARVs and making them easily available to all people who are affected by HIV/AIDS."
Arun Sawhney, MD, Ranbaxy Laboratories, says: "We are humbled to be given this responsibility to produce, supply and distribute affordable ARVs in South Africa. As a socially responsible global pharmaceutical company, we are committed to the cause of alleviating the suffering due to HIV AIDS and to bringing high quality medication to those who need it the most."
Sotse Segoneco of Sonke Pharmaceuticals says: "As a proud South African company, we are grateful to have been afforded the opportunity to assist our government in reducing new HIV infections by providing affordable, quality generic ARV medication to our people. Close to three million South Africans who are living with HIV/AIDS will be on ARV treatment by 2011/12, through government's commitment."
Earlier, the company was appointed by the government to supply generic ARVs throughout South Africa. It also provides generic ARVs to Botswana and Namibia respectively.
The medicines will be manufactured in South Africa and at Ranbaxy facilities, in India.
Sonke Pharmaceuticals has launched 16 products to date, eight of which are manufactured locally in South Africa and with this tender, the company will now be able to introduce another nine ARV's to the market to serve the needs of a wider cross section of patients."
