GENEVA, SWITZERLAND– The Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd (Dr. Reddy’s) and Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services Limited (APSL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore joint opportunities to make zoliflodacin, a new treatment for gonorrhoea, accessible in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including South Africa, Thailand and India. Through this MOU, the parties will seek to collaborate on efforts to determine market potential for zoliflodacin, therapeutic value to patients and explore possibilities to enter into future manufacturing and supply agreements.

GARDP is working with US-based biotech Entasis Therapeutics on the phase 3 clinical trial of zoliflodacin, a novel, first-in-class treatment active against resistant strains of gonorrhoea. Under its partnership agreement with Entasis Therapeutics, GARDP is responsible for key clinical pharmaceutical development activities to support regulatory approval, market access and availability.

“This MOU is an important opportunity to explore a model for affordable access to a new treatment for gonorrhoea, for all people who need it, regardless of where they live,” said Seamus O’Brien, Research and Development Director of GARDP.

“Antibiotic access and affordability is a key area of focus for Dr. Reddy’s. Through our strong presence in more than 40 countries, we want to ensure zoliflodacin and similar products are made available to address unmet medical needs of patients,” said Deepak Sapra, CEO API & Services of Dr. Reddy’s.

Ravi Venkataramanan, CEO of APSL, said: “This is an important collaboration milestone as APSL continues to support GARDP through integrated drug development and supply. Over the years of this collaboration, we have held our commitment of accelerating innovation not just from laboratory to clinic but also in ensuring new drugs reach patients.”

GARDP is a not-for-profit organization developing new treatments for drug-resistant infections that pose the greatest threat to health. This includes a new treatment for gonorrhoea, which has progressively developed resistance to globally recommended treatments and has been identified by the World Health Organization as a priority infection urgently requiring new antibiotics.

About GARDP

The Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) is a Swiss not-for-profit organization developing new treatments for drug-resistant infections that pose the greatest threat to health. GARDP was created by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) in 2016 to ensure that everyone who needs antibiotics receives effective and affordable treatment, no matter where they live. GARDP aims to develop five new treatments by 2025 to fight drug-resistant infections, focusing on sexually transmitted infections, sepsis in newborns and infections in hospitalized adults and children. GARDP is funded by the governments of Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom, as well as Médecins Sans Frontières and private foundations. GARDP is registered under the legal name GARDP Foundation. www.gardp.org

About Dr. Reddy’s

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. (BSE: 500124, NSE: DRREDDY, NYSE: RDY) is an integrated pharmaceutical company, committed to providing affordable and innovative medicines for healthier lives. Through its three businesses – Pharmaceutical Services & Active Ingredients, Global Generics and Proprietary Products – Dr. Reddy’s offers a portfolio of products and services including APIs, generics, biosimilars and differentiated products. Major therapeutic areas of focus are infectious diseases, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, diabetology, oncology, pain management and dermatology. Dr. Reddy’s operates in markets across the globe. For more information, log on to: www.drreddys.com

About Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services Limited

Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services Limited (APSL) is a leading contract research, development and manufacturing organization with a strong legacy of services in discovery, development and manufacturing, working with global pharma and specialty companies worldwide. APSL expertise is integrated service offerings including discovery chemistry, discovery biology, custom development and manufacturing of clinical compounds to enable IND/IMPD/NDA fillings and commercial contract manufacturing. Collaboration is offered from world-class R&D centers situated in India. It is supported by scale-up and commercial manufacturing facilities in India, UK, Mexico and the United States. For more information, log on to: www.aurigeneservices.com