A partnership between Mumbai-based drug firm, Lupin, and the Switzerland-based Sandoz Group AG, will see wider popularity in the biosimilar drug, ranibizumab, across multiple countries.
Biosimilar drugs are said to be biological medications that are highly similar, but not identical to an already-approved biological medicine. Due to the complex nature of biologics, they are designed to have the same therapeutic effect.
In a statement on Tuesday, Lupin said Sandoz will oversee commercialisation of the product across the European Union (excluding Germany), Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Malaysia, while Lupin will be responsible for manufacturing the product and for its regulatory submissions.
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As per the deal, Sandoz will also hold exclusive marketing rights in most of the designated markets, except for France, Australia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, where it will have semi-exclusive marketing rights, Lupin Ltd said.
Meanwhile, in Canada, Sandoz will acquire sole rights for commercialization of Lupin’s biosimilar ranibizumab, while Lupin will manage its manufacture and regulatory filings, the statement added.
Ranibizumab is a recombinant humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody fragment that binds to and inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A).
Its indications encompass the treatment of patients with neovascular (Wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO), diabetic macular edema (DME) among others.
"This partnership underscores our shared vision to expand global access to cutting-edge biologic therapies and improve outcomes for underserved patients," Lupin President EMEA and Emerging Markets Thierry Volle said.
Shares of the company were trading marginally up at ₹1,946.30 apiece on BSE.
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