HYDERABAD: Pharma player Aurobindo Pharma Ltd on Friday informed the bourses that its wholly owned subsidiary, Eugia Pharma Specialities Ltd, has entered into a voluntary agreement with Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), to develop and market cancer drug Nilotinib capsules in 44 low and middle-income countries (LMIC), including the seven countries where patents on the product are pending or in force.
Nilotinib capsules, which is used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), was originally developed by Novartis. Eugia Pharma is one of four generic manufacturers and is among three Hyderabad-based pharma companies to have been granted a sub-licence for the cancer drug by MPP.
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hetero Drugs and Indonesia-based BrightGene have also been granted the Nilotinib sublicence.
Aurobindo Pharma said the product will be manufactured at Eugia Pharma’s Unit-I in Medchal-Malkajgiri district on Hyderabad’s outskirts, where it has adequate capacities of world class standards to meet the global demand for the drug across the licensed territory.
Terming the product as a good addition to Aurobindo’s oncology portfolio that would strengthen its leadership in the generic oncology medicine space, Aurobindo Pharma vice-chairman & managing director K Nithyananda Reddy said: “These are the first sublicence agreements that MPP has signed for a cancer treatment that will be made available in the LMIC, through this license. We look forward to start supplying the product at the earliest and to help reducing the risk chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in certain patients.”
MPP executive director Charles Gore said: “We are delighted to be working with these four generic manufacturers to develop generic Nilotinib and bring an affordable treatment option to people diagnosed with CML in these countries. At MPP, we are determined to show that voluntary licensing is a truly impactful way of delivering affordable treatments to tackle the ever-rising burden of cancer in LMICs.”
Nilotinib capsules, which is used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), was originally developed by Novartis. Eugia Pharma is one of four generic manufacturers and is among three Hyderabad-based pharma companies to have been granted a sub-licence for the cancer drug by MPP.
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hetero Drugs and Indonesia-based BrightGene have also been granted the Nilotinib sublicence.
Aurobindo Pharma said the product will be manufactured at Eugia Pharma’s Unit-I in Medchal-Malkajgiri district on Hyderabad’s outskirts, where it has adequate capacities of world class standards to meet the global demand for the drug across the licensed territory.
Terming the product as a good addition to Aurobindo’s oncology portfolio that would strengthen its leadership in the generic oncology medicine space, Aurobindo Pharma vice-chairman & managing director K Nithyananda Reddy said: “These are the first sublicence agreements that MPP has signed for a cancer treatment that will be made available in the LMIC, through this license. We look forward to start supplying the product at the earliest and to help reducing the risk chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in certain patients.”
MPP executive director Charles Gore said: “We are delighted to be working with these four generic manufacturers to develop generic Nilotinib and bring an affordable treatment option to people diagnosed with CML in these countries. At MPP, we are determined to show that voluntary licensing is a truly impactful way of delivering affordable treatments to tackle the ever-rising burden of cancer in LMICs.”