<p>The agreement gives the companies the rights to produce and distribute generic versions of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate to 95 low-income countries around the world, including India. Tenofovir DF is sold by Gilead under the brand name Viread and is a treatment for the HIV virus. <br /><br />The licensing agreements are with Alkem Laboratories, Aurobindo Pharma, FDC, JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, Matrix Laboratories, Medchem International, Ranbaxy Laboratories and Shasun Chemicals & Drugs.<br /><br />The license agreements require that the generic companies meet certain regulatory standards and include a technology transfer to enable production of large volumes of high-quality generic versions of tenofovir DF. In addition, these agreements allow the manufacture of commercial quantities of both active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and the finished product. <br /><br />In August, Gilead announced similar agreements with three other India-based pharmaceuticals.</p>