Natco Pharma announced today that it has signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Gilead Sciences, to manufacture and sell generic versions of its chronic hepatitis C medicines. The medicines include sofosbuvir, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir and the investigational NS5A inhibitor GS-5816, which is being evaluated in Phase 3 clinical studies a s part of a single tablet regimen that combines the compound and sofosbuvir for the treatment of all six genotypes of hepatitis C.

This agreement allows Natco to expand access to these chronic hepatitis C medicines in 91 developing countries. Under the license, Natco can set its own price for the generic products it produces, paying a royalty on sales to Gilead to support product registrations, medical education and training, safety monitoring and other essential business activities.

Shares of the company gained Rs 48.3, or 3.53%, to trade at Rs 1,417. The total volume of shares traded was 8,208 at the BSE (12.53 p.m., Monday).