Bristol-Myers Squibb today announced an agreement for technology transfer and voluntary license with generic manufacturers Aspen PharmaCare and Emcure Pharmaceuticals for Reyataz ( Atazanavir Sulfate ), the company’s once-daily protease inhibitor for HIV/AIDS that was initially approved in the U.S. in June 2003 for use in combination therapy with other anti-HIV medicines. Bristol-Myers Squibb will grant a royalty-free license to Aspen and Emcure to manufacture and sell atazanavir in sub-Saharan Africa. A separate agreement has been concluded with Emcure covering India.

Under the agreement, Bristol-Myers Squibb will provide a royalty-free license to operate under relevant patents and will transfer to Aspen and Emcure its technical know-how related to the manufacturing, testing, packaging, storage and handling of the active pharmaceutical ingredient and the finished dosage form of atazanavir.