AIDS is a leading cause of death globally. An estimated 36.7 million people were living with HIV worldwide in 2016, 19.5M people on treatment globally (2016), with two-thirds living in sub-Saharan Africa. While this reflects the continued large number of new HIV infections, there is a significant increase in access to effective and affordable antiretroviral therapies (ART) which has helped reduce AIDS-related deaths.

While Strides encompasses the global requirements of ART, the focus is on production and supply of newer anti-retroviral drugs that are difficult to manufacture. This includes pediatric dispersible formulations, new fixed-dose molecules (Products which are still under patent) which Strides have access through license agreements with Gilead, Vive Healthcare, MPP, among others, for the underdeveloped & developing markets.

Second only to AIDS, TB is responsible for majority of deaths from an infectious disease globally. 1.5 Million people die of TB annually. Despite this progress, the global burden of TB remains enormous. However, recent years have seen an increase in the number of TB patients diagnosed with multidrug-resistant TB, fueled by the HIV epidemic, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Those who are HIV positive are up to 30 times more likely to develop active TB than those who are not.

Strides has a state-of-the-art anti-TB drug facility formulating second line TB drug.

As of 2016, an estimated 216 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide, with 90% of these cases occurring in the WHO Africa region. Half of the world’s population live in areas at risk of Malaria transmission in 106 countries and territories. There were estimated 445,000 (In 2016) malaria deaths worldwide, with 91% of these deaths occurring in Africa. Besides lost economic output, 40% of drug expenditure in affected countries is spent on Malaria drugs alone.

Strides have begun supply of WHO Pre-Qualified Artemether + Lumefantrine (AL) Tablets, and AL Dispersible tablets for pediatric use, and has ERP approval for AL 80/480 and Artesunate Suppositories caps, to the affected populations. The pediatric dispersible formulations & Suppositories of anti-malarial have been introduced to cater to Malaria infected infants and children. Keeping in sync with the latest treatment guidelines, Strides looks forward to introduce newer products and meet emerging demand.

Globally, it is estimated that 325 million people are chronically infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). The WHO report notes that the “Viral hepatitis caused 1.34 million deaths in 2015”, a number comparable to deaths caused by tuberculosis and HIV. But while mortality from tuberculosis and HIV has been declining, deaths from hepatitis are on the increase. Approximately 1.75 million people were newly infected with HCV in 2015.

In September 2014, Strides entered into a licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc to bring Hepatitis C & B drug cure more than 105 developing countries.

Strides have launched “Sofosbuvir and it’s combination drugs” in Africa, South East Asia, CIS and Latam countries for Hepatitis C treatment and represents a paradigm shift in the existing Hepatitis C cure.

The high potency, high barrier to resistance, pan genotypic activity, once-daily dosage, good safety profile and the limited drug-drug interactions of Sofosbuvir makes it a breakthrough drug in Hepatitis C treatment. This drug in combination therapy has shown to have high cure rates of around 90%.