Ranbaxy in-licenses asthma drug

Ranbaxy Laboratories has entered into an in-licensing agreement for the Indian market with the Netherlands-based pharma company, Eurodrug Laboratories, for the asthma product Doxophylline.

According to a release issued by Ranbaxy to the BSE today, the product has been developed in collaboration with many European medical centers, and will be introduced for the first time in India under the brand name Synasma.

"The drug is indicated for chronic bronchitis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is considered to be superior to available Xanthine analogues like Theophylline and Aminophylline. Eurodrug has been successfully marketing this medicine in Europe, Latin America and few Asian markets like Korea, Philippines and Thailand," the release added.

Sanjeev I Dani, regional Director (India & Middle East) of Ranbaxy, said: "Synasma (Doxophylline) is yet another innovative asthma drug to be introduced in India for the first time by Ranbaxy. It is our strategic intent to in-licence differentiated products for the Indian market in the post-patent era, and this drug augments the company's position in the fast growing asthma segment."