Zydus to market immunosuppressant drug of Switzerland's Neovii in India

The Ahmedabad-based Zydus group has entered into an in-licensing agreement with Neovii, the Swiss biopharmaceutical company, to launch Grafalon, an immunosuppressant extensively used in solid organ transplants and stem cell transplant, in India. 

The Zydus group will market this therapy through Zydus Trans-immune, a division that offers a range of therapies related to transplant medicine. With the inclusion of Grafalon, the division will be able to offer a comprehensive therapy portfolio in solid organ transplant and stem cell transplant, thus strengthening its position in Indian transplant-immuno therapy segment, which is estimated at Rs 483 crores.

Organ transplantation is the most preferred option for patients with end-stage organ failure since both survival and quality of life are superior as compared to patients who live without transplantation. However, one of the major challenges in organ transplantation is graft rejection. In most cases, transplant rejection occurs when transplanted tissue is rejected by the recipient’s immune system, which destroys the transplanted tissue. Likewise, stem cell transplantation remains key treatment option for those suffering from haematological conditions including malignancies. Transplant outcomes can be improved significantly by the use of immunosuppressant drugs such as Grafalon.

Grafalon (formerly commercialised as ATG Fresenius) is used as a part of immunosuppressive regimens (induction protocol) for the prevention and treatment of rejection in solid organ transplantation, prevention of graft versus host disease in stem cell transplantation. 

“Currently, an estimated 10000 solid organ transplant & stem cell transplants are taking place annually across 200 plus transplant centres in India. Grafalon offers a specific advantage of efficacy and better safety profile through targeted immunosuppression,” said Zydus group in a press release.