Mylan's Matrix Receives First and Only Tentative FDA Approval Under PEPFAR for Generic Version of Atripla(R) HIV TreatmentPITTSBURGH,
Aug. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Mylan Inc. (Nasdaq: MYL)
today announced that
Matrix Laboratories, an Indian company in which
Mylan
owns a controlling stake, has received tentative approval from the
U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief (PEPFAR) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for a
fixed-dose combination (FDC) of Efavirenz, Emtricitabine, Tenofovir Disoproxil
Fumarate Tablets, 600 mg/200 mg/300 mg. This is the first and only generic
version of this product and will be eligible for purchase outside the U.S. in
many developing countries.
Mylan President Heather Bresch said: "This critical approval only further
strengthens Mylan and Matrix's efforts to expand access to life-saving,
affordable AIDS treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS in developing
countries. Matrix's generic fixed-dose combination will dramatically improve
access to this more patient-friendly medication while reducing the cost of
treatment. Our commitment to growing Matrix's ARV (antiretroviral) franchise
goes hand-in-hand with our desire to raise the standard of care in developing
countries to the levels available in countries like the U.S."
The Efavirenz, Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate FDC is the
generic version of Gilead Sciences' Atripla Tablets, which are indicated for
the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults. It combines three anti-AIDS
medicines into a single daily dose for either first- or second-line treatment
and is one of the best-selling AIDS products in developed countries, with
approximately $1.6 billion in U.S. sales alone for the twelve months ending
June 30, according to IMS Health. Until now, a generic version of this product
has not been available in any market. Cocktails combining numerous drugs into
a once daily dose can dramatically reduce pill burden, an improvement which
has been shown to enhance patient compliance with complex treatment regimens.
The FDA's tentative approval under PEPFAR means that Matrix's product
meets all of the agency's manufacturing quality, safety and efficacy
standards. Although existing patents or exclusivity prevent its marketing in
the U.S., the product will be eligible for purchase outside the U.S. in many
developing countries.
Matrix's wide range of ARV products includes active pharmaceutical
ingredients (API) and first- and second-line finished doses. The company's
emphasis on producing affordable products has allowed it to drive down the
average annual cost per patient of effective therapies. Approximately 30% of
HIV/AIDS patients in developing countries depend on at least one Matrix ARV
product.
Mylan Inc., which provides products to customers in more than 140
countries and territories, ranks among the leading diversified generic and
specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world. The company maintains one of
the industry's broadest - and highest quality - product portfolios, supported
by a robust product pipeline; owns a controlling interest in the world's third
largest active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturer; and operates a
specialty business focused on respiratory and allergy therapies. For more
information, please visit www.mylan.com.
SOURCE Mylan Inc.
08/18/2009
CONTACT: Media, Michael Laffin, +1-724-514-1968,
or Investors, Dan
Crookshank, +1-724-514-1813, both of Mylan Inc.
Web Site: http://www.mylan.com