Kenya to Make Monthly HIV Prevention Pill Alimatravir

Kenya is one of three African countries preparing to make a once monthly HIV prevention pill. The pill could replace daily oral PrEP for some users if trials succeed and regulators approve it.

Universal Corporation Limited (UCL), a manufacturer based in Kikuyu, is one of seven generic drugmakers Merck has picked to prepare to produce alimatravir. The drug is an investigational oral pre exposure prophylaxis pill , also known as MK-8527. Regulators have not approved it for public use.

What the licence covers Merck announced the agreements on July 24. The licences are nonexclusive and royalty free, and they cover 129 low and middle income countries. The seven licensed firms are UCL Kenya, Aspen Pharmacare of South Africa and Quality Chemical Industries of Uganda, plus Aurobindo, Cipla, Emcure and Viatris in India.