Pharma major Ranbaxy Laboratories on Monday claimed that its South Africa-based joint venture, Sonke Pharmaceuticals, has clinched a deal of 913.5 million rand ($133 million)which involved supplying anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs for protection against AIDS.

Anti-retroviral drugs are offered to protect against infection by retroviruses HIV.

The South African government has released an amount of 4.28 billion rand national ARV drugs deal prior to this.

"Sonke Pharmaceuticals, a joint venture between Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals and Community Investment Holding, is the second largest local supplier of generic ARV medication in South Africa," the company claimed through a regulatory filing.

The medicines will be produced in South Africa and at the same time released at Ranbaxy facilities in India.

Arun Sawhney, managing director of Ranbaxy Laboratories excitedly claimed that about the offered responsibilities which aimed at generation supply and proffer affordable ARVs in South Africa.

It proves to be a socially responsible global pharmaceutical firm, which is aimed at elevation the pain essentially due to HIV/AIDS and at the same time offer high quality medication to the ones who need it the at the most.