DRL inks pact with Amgen to market three drugs in India

Dr Reddy's Laboratories (DRL) has expanded its strategic collaboration with US-based independent biotechnology firm Amgen to market and distribute in India three of latter's medicines, used in the therapy areas of oncology and osteoporosis.
Under the terms of collaboration, DRL will commercialise Xgeva (denosumab), Vectibix (panitumumab) and Prolia (denosumab) in India, a company statement said today.
In 2015, DRL announced an initial strategic collaboration with Amgen to execute a full range of regulatory and commercial services to seek approval and launch Amgen's Kyprolis (carfilzomib), Blincyto (blinatumomab) and Repatha (evolocumab) in India.
"It strengthens our constant endeavour to enhance patient's access to novel treatment options across therapy areas. These medicines provide unique treatment options to physicians to address unmet medical need in the area of oncology and osteoporosis," said MV Ramana, DRL's Executive Vice President and Head of Emerging markets and India Business.

Penny Wan, Amgen Vice President and General Manager, Japan Asia Pacific Region said, "We are happy to strengthen our relationship with Dr Reddy's. Amgen is committed to addressing unmet medical needs of patients in India, and we are pleased with the commitment Dr Reddy's has demonstrated toward making our medicines available in India as quickly as possible."
Xgeva is a Rank ligand (RANKL) inhibitor and is approved in India for the prevention of skeletal related events in patients with advanced malignancies involving bone.

Vectibix (panitumumab) is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Prolia is a Rank ligand inhibitor approved in India for treatment of post-menopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture and also for treatment of increased bone mass in men with osteoporosis.
The scrip of DRL closed at 3151.15, up by 0.31 per cent on the BSE today.