Under the deal, the New York US-based firm will transfer the manufacture and distribution of its atazanavir sulfate 200 mg and 300 mg capsules to the Brazilian Ministry of Health’s technical-scientific unit of Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, in Farmanguinhos.
Further technology will also be transferred to an as yet unnamed local manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).
The alliance aims to eventually make the government solely responsible for the supply of atazanavir in Brazil.
"The Company's technology transfer agreement is an innovative evolution of a longstanding collaboration that will ensure a sustainable supply of atazanavir in the future for the many patients who can benefit from the therapy in Brazil," said Mark Pavao, president of emerging markets, Bristol-Myers Squibb.
"The agreement also provides an opportunity to increase access to this medicine and supports the Brazilian government's interests in the further development of its local pharmaceutical manufacturing base."
Working with governments
The move is not a first for the company, which has already worked with the Brazilian MoH for a number of years over HIV therapy in the country.
In a press release, a spokesperson said of the company’s strategy to work within developing countries: “Bristol-Myers Squibb has a longstanding commitment to increasing access to HIV medicines in resource-limited settings.
“This agreement, which is specific to Brazil, is one example of the Company's collaboration with partners in civil society and government in our shared responsibility to expand access to HIV therapy.”