GSK grants fourth generic drug license

Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline this week granted a fourth license to a South African drug company to manufacture and sell generic versions of some of its antiretroviral medications. Under the agreement, Biotech Laboratories, a subsidiary of Afrika Biopharma, will be able to make and supply generic anti-HIV medications to both the public and private sectors in sub-Saharan Africa. "As a black economic empowerment company in South Africa, we can now also play a meaningful role in the fight against the so-called social diseases of Africa," said Shad Mapetla, head of Afrika Biopharma and CEO of Biotech. "The granting of this license by GlaxoSmithKline will help us do that." It was not reported exactly which drugs were covered by the generic license.