Zydus Lifesciences Limited and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (Sun Pharma) have entered into a licensing agreement to co-market an innovative drug for anaemia linked to kidney ailments.
Desidustat is the first-of-its-kind oral treatment for anemia associated with chronic kidney diseases (CKD) in India, the drug makers said.
Under the terms of the agreement, Zydus has granted Sun Pharma semi-exclusive rights to comarket the product in India under the brand name RYTSTAT. Zydus had launched the drug under the brand name Oxemia in 2022 and will continue to market it.
Zydus will receive an upfront licensing income and receive incomes based on achievement of pre-defined milestones. “Desidustat, which is one of the critical treatment options for CKD patients, has substantially improved the patients’ quality of life since it is more convenient to take an oral pill, instead of an injection that needs to be administered. We are pleased to join hands with Sun Pharma to expand the reach of this novel medicine by enabling access to more patients,” said a spokesperson for Zydus Lifesciences Ltd.
Kirti Ganorkar, CEO - India Business, Sun Pharma said: “This partnership will allow greater access to a critical therapy, helping millions of patients suffering from chronic kidney diseases.”
More than 115 million people in India suffer from CKD, which is predicted to become one of the most common causes of premature death by 2040 globally. Patients with CKD often have to battle chronic fatigue caused by anaemia. To address this, patients need to take injectable erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs) about twice weekly. HIF-PH inhibitors like Desidustat bridge the need for an oral, safer alternative to ESAs.
It reduces the burden of managing the disease by providing treatment at an affordable cost along with ease of convenience.
Chronic kidney disease is a serious, progressive medical condition characterised by a gradual loss of kidney function, usually accompanied by other comorbidities including anaemia, cardiovascular diseases (hypertension, heart failure and stroke), diabetes mellitus, eventually leading to kidney failure.
CKD patients are often on multiple medications and have increased risk of drug interactions. The clinical development programme of Desidustat was one of the largest trials of its kind in India for anemia in CKD patients, conducted in over 1,200 subjects.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
