ViiV Healthcare Will Not License Apretude to Generic Companies

ViiV Healthcare said it will not offer its HIV prevention drug, Apretude (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension), to generic manufacturers under license at this time.

However, the company said it is in continued talks with the Medicines Patent Pool and other partners to grant licenses to make Apretude more widely available to low- and middle-income countries in the future.

The UK drugmaker cited several reasons for denying generic drug licenses, including “the complexities of manufacturing, regulatory requirements, capital investment needs and unpredictable demand.”

For now, ViiV will remain the only global supplier of Apretude, the company said.