New Delhi, June 05: The US-based pharmaceutical major Eli Lilly on Thursday announced a $70 million initiative as part of its effort to combat the spread of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in India and other developing countries. Eli Lilly would transfer its technology to manufacture Capreomycin and Cycloserine, two antibiotics necessary for treatment of MDR-TB to India and has partnered with Chennai based Shashun Chemicals in transfer of technology to manufacture Cycloserine, a company release said.

Both the antibiotics would be provided at a fraction of their cost to WHO Green Light Committee approved DOTS Plus treatment programmes all over the world, it said, adding the value of this discount was approximately $25 million.
Lilly has negotiated stipulations as to how much a company to whom the technology is transferred can charge designated purchasers in emerging or developing nations. Bureau Report