Ranbaxy Laboratories [Get Quote] has entered into an in-licensing agreement with Lupin Laboratories to market Lupin's tuberculosis brand in the severely affected West and North African markets.

The alliance will leverage the combined strengths of Ranbaxy's global marketing and distribution network and Lupin's international expertise in the management of tuberculosis.

As per the arrangement, Ranbaxy will sell Lupin's TB brand, Akurit, a fixed dose combination, in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Algeria, Chad, Mauritania and Congo.

Ranbaxy executive director Malvinder Mohan Singh said the alliance with Lupin was initiated as the company was committed to reducing the incidence of disease in the developing world by making therapy accessible and affordable to all.

"We believe that this unique arrangement best combines the strengths of both companies in controlling tuberculosis in areas of Africa most severely impacted by this dreaded disease," he added.

TB has recently been declared as an emergency in Africa after 46 ministers of health unanimously adopted a resolution at the WHO Africa Regional Committee in Maputo, Mozambique, on 25 August 2005.

This decision was taken after the committee took note of the fact that there are around 1500 TB deaths every day in Africa and the disease kills half a million African people every year, largely young men and women.