Lupin and Zentiva Partners to Lunch Arthritis Biosimilar in EU Markets

To further enhance the global ecosystem of the biosimilar, the pharma major Lupin harnessed a strategic step of having a licence and supply deal with the Zentiva Group to commercialize its biosimilar product Certolizumab Pegol in various international territories.

Both companies will also invest jointly in the development of the bio-similar as part of the deal. Once the deal is done, Lupin will pay an up-front amount of 10 million but further 50 million up to 50 million as a milestone bonus depending on the development and regulatory success. The two firms will also share profits in the identified global markets as presented by Lupin.

Cimzia contains the active ingredient, Certolizumab Pegol, and has been prescribed in a number of chronic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis.

The development, production, and provision of the product in selected areas will be the mandate of Lupin. Zentiva, in its turn, will head the commercialization in non-US and non-Canadian regions and countries with the concentration on European and CIS regions with the help of developed regional infrastructure and regulatory expertise. The rest of the territories such as North America will be commercialised by Lupin.

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Highlighting the partnership’s scope, Fabrice Egros, President of Corporate Development, Lupin, said, “Our global development and commercialization partnership with Zentiva, with its pan-European focus, enables Lupin to commercialise this unique biosimilar in its core markets and through Zentiva in Europe.”

The collation will enhance access of patients to an alternative inexpensive medication against autoimmune diseases.