Intas Pharma, Axantia collaborate for Ranibizumab in Middle East
Intas has developed a biosimilar of Lucentis, which is currently under Phase III global trial for submission in major countries including EMA and the US.
Ahmedabad: Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has signed an exclusive license and supply agreement with Axantia Holding, a pharmaceutical company in the Middle East operating through its pharmaceutical subsidiaries; Pharma International Pharmaceutical & Chemical Manufacturing Co. Ltd and Med City Pharmaceutical Industries for Ranibizumab (biosimilar of Lucentis).
Ranibizumab is a recombinant humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody fragment that binds to and inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A).
Ranibizumab is indicated for the treatment of patients with Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO), Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization (mCNV).
Under the terms of this agreement, Axantia will register, hold the marketing authorization and commercialize Ranibizumab in certain territories including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and GCC countries.
Intas has developed a biosimilar of Lucentis, which is currently under Phase III global trial for submission in major countries including EMA & the US.
Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is a vertically integrated pharmaceutical company based in Ahmedabad, India, having end-to-end capabilities of formulation development, manufacturing and marketing along with backward integration of APIs.
The Intas Group's revenue amounted to USD 2.2 bn in FY 2020-21 and the compounded annual growth rate of revenue has been 19% in the past 5 years.
Read also: Intas pharma gets CDSCO panel nod to manufacture, market schizophrenia drug Clozapine
Axantia is a pharmaceutical company, established in 2014 as a joint venture between Abu Al Haj Family and Al Faisaliah Group. Axantia develops, manufactures, markets and distributes branded generic pharmaceuticals and under-licensed products in 20 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and the CIS.
Axantia's subsidiaries – Pharma International Company in Jordan and Med City Pharmaceutical Industries in Saudi Arabia are supported by functional organizations with different manufacturing lines to deliver a broad portfolio covering all major therapeutic areas. Axantia has a general formulations plant in Jeddah and has renovated 3 plants in Amman Jordan; GF plant, Cepha plant and Injectable Cepha plant.
