Novartis, Mesoblast ink deal worth Rs 370 crore for Remestemcel-L for Covid ARDS
Zurich: Novartis aims to boost its respiratory treatment portfolio with a $50 million deal for an off-the-shelf cell therapy from Mesoblast that it hopes to deploy for Covid-19 patients as well as others suffering from respiratory distress.
The Swiss drugmaker's deal with Australia-based Mesoblast secures rights to develop, commercialize and manufacture Remestemcel-L for treating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), including that associated with Covid-19, for which the therapy is currently in late-stage trials.
While the therapy has shown promise in Covid-19 patients -- -- in a compassionate use programme in March in 12 patients, Remestemcel-L was associated with an 83% survival rate -- Novartis wants the medicine for beyond the pandemic, too, to help patients who in normal times also land in the hospital with ARDS and often die.
"It has the potential to be the first treatment for the most critically ill ARDS patients, and it provides us with an opportunity to apply years of specialized experience directly to the work of saving lives," Novartis's chief drug developer, John Tsai, said on Friday.
Unlike Kymriah, Novartis's cancer cell therapy, Remestemcel-L does not have to be tailored for each patient. Once the deal is closed, Novartis said it is planning to help Mesoblast work on quality attributes of the therapy so it meets U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements necessary for late-stage trial beyond Covid-19.
Read also: Novartis India reports net profit at Rs 7.52 crore in Q2
Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.