(Ecofin Agency) - In a release published January 8, 2019, the speciality pharmaceuticals company Mylan announced that it has bought the South African group Ascendis Health’s antiretroviral drug manufacturing plant in the framework of its project to provide quality antiretroviral drugs to 7 million people living in South Africa with AIDS.

Located in Isando (Gauteng province), the 2.34 hectares plant produces pills, effervescent tablets, hard and semi-solid gelatin capsules.

Rajiv Malik, Mylan’s president, indicated that his group’s initiative in the fight against AIDS comprises a commitment to provide access to ARV drugs for patients living in low and middle-income countries.

"Mylan's innovations have helped fuel a steep decline in ARV drug costs over the last decade, and the integration of the Isando site into our global manufacturing network will help us to meet unmet patient needs in South Africa", he said in the release.  

Mylan sells antiretrovirals in more than 120 countries and about 40% of people with HIV/AIDS in developing countries benefit from treatment by generic ARV drugs.