HEPATITIS C DRUG IN INDIA

Dr Reddy's Laboratories  on Monday entered into an agreement with Hetero to

 distribute and market generic version of US-firm Gilead Sciences' Hepatitis C 

drug under the brand 'Resof' in India. "The company has entered into an 

agreement with Hetero, under which Dr Reddy's has been licensed to distribute 

and market Sofosbuvir 400 mg tablets indicated in treatment of chronic 

Hepatitis C under the brand 'Resof' in India," the Hyderabad-based drug major

 said in a BSE filing. Sofosbuvir is a medicine used for chronic Hepatitis C 

infection and sold globally by Gilead Sciences Inc, under its brand Sovaldi

. Hetero had signed a non-exclusive agreement with Gilead Sciences to 

manufacture and sell its Hepatitis medicines. "With the diagnosis rates for

 Hepatitis C in India being abysmally low, Dr Reddy's will make a significant

 difference in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease," the company said.

 "The launch of Resof is in line with Dr Reddy's philosophy of innovative 

medicine at a at an affordable price and will provide significant relief to 

patients, resulting in potential cure and a high barrier to resistance at an

 affordable price for those living with Hepatitis C," Dr Reddy's Laboratories 

Co-Chairman and CEO G V Prasad said. Gilead Sciences also signed non-

exclusive licensing agreements with Zydus Cadila and Natco Pharma   to 

manufacture Sofosbuvir for distribution in 91 developing countries including

 India. Earlier this month, Natco Pharma launched the drug in Nepal.