Merck licenses experimental once-monthly HIV pill to seven generic manufacturers for 129 countries

Jul 24, 2026

Merck has signed royalty-free voluntary licensing agreements with seven generic drug manufacturers in India and sub-Saharan Africa to produce and sell lower-cost versions of its experimental once-monthly oral HIV pill, alimatravir, in 129 low- and middle-income countries. The early-stage agreements, executed before Phase 3 trial completion, aim to scale up production capacity ahead of expected trial results in late 2027. This initiative targets regions accounting for the majority of new global HIV diagnoses, where 40.9 million people lived with HIV in 2025.

Aurobindo Pharma Merck licensing deal

▪Aurobindo Pharma Ltd shares closed at 1,530.60 rupees, down 0.44 percent, on the Bombay Stock Exchange on July 24, 2026.
▪Aurobindo Pharma Ltd signed a non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreement with Merck to manufacture and supply generic alimatravir for 129 low- and middle-income countries.

Generic alimatravir for LMICs

▪Merck signed seven voluntary licensing agreements with generic drug manufacturers to make and sell lower-cost versions of its experimental once-monthly oral HIV pill in 129 low- and lower-middle-income countries.
▪The seven generic manufacturers licensed by Merck include three sub-Saharan African companies, Aspen Pharmacare, Quality Chemical Industries, and UCL, and four Indian companies, Aurobindo, Cipla, Emcure, and Viatris.

Royalty-free manufacturing rights

▪The licensing agreements signed by Merck with the seven generic manufacturers are royalty-free and cover both the public and private sectors.
▪The 129 countries covered under the royalty-free licensing agreements account for a substantial majority of new HIV diagnoses globally.

Pre-Phase 3 licensing agreement

▪Merck executed the licensing agreements before completing Phase 3 trial enrollment for alimatravir to allow generic licensees time to scale up production.
▪Merck expects to obtain trial results for alimatravir in the second half of 2027.

HIV prevention drug access

▪Alimatravir, also known as MK-8527, is an investigational once-monthly oral pill designed to provide one month of protection from HIV-1 starting within one hour of dosing.
▪An estimated 40.9 million people globally were living with HIV in 2025, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for more than half of those cases.