Sun Pharma, AstraZeneca ink distribution pact for heart drug ticagrelor

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited (AZPIL) have entered into a distribution services agreement in India for AstraZeneca’s brand Axcer, a new brand of ticagrelor, a drug used for the treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). AstraZeneca already has a brand under the trademark Brilinta, for ticagrelor molecule, launched and marketed by AZPIL in India since 2012.
 
Abhay Gandhi, CEO - India Business, Sun Pharma, said, “We are happy to collaborate with AstraZeneca to provide customers access to this latest generation treatment option for ACS. Such collaborations are also a part of our stated policy of becoming the partner of choice for promotion and distribution of innovative pharmaceutical products in the country.”
 
Sun Pharma will be promoting and distributing Axcer brand in India. This collaboration will enable AstraZeneca to expand usage of this molecule through wider reach to physicians and thereby benefiting a greater number of ACS patients. On the other hand, it will strengthen Sun Pharma’s cardiology portfolio with the addition of a new patented therapy.
 
Sanjay Murdeshwar, managing director, AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited, commented, “We are pleased to collaborate with Sun Pharmaceuticals to bring this innovative treatment solution to a larger number of ACS patients in India. Ticagrelor works by preventing the formation of new blood clots and maintains blood flow in the body, helping reduce a patient’s risk of another heart attack or cardiovascular-related death.”