Mumbai-based pharmaceutical company Lupin Limited has announced a strategic partnership with Switzerland's Sandoz Group AG to commercialize its biosimilar ranibizumab across multiple international markets. The collaboration aims to expand global access to this critical ophthalmology treatment for various retinal conditions.
Partnership Structure and Market Coverage
Under the terms of the primary agreement, Sandoz will oversee commercialization of Lupin's biosimilar ranibizumab across the European Union (excluding Germany), Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Lupin will retain responsibility for manufacturing the product and managing regulatory submissions across these territories.
The partnership establishes different levels of market exclusivity depending on the region. Sandoz will hold exclusive marketing rights in most of the designated markets, with the exception of France, Australia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, where the company will have semi-exclusive marketing rights.
A separate agreement between the two companies grants Sandoz sole rights for commercialization of Lupin's biosimilar ranibizumab in Canada, while Lupin will continue to manage manufacturing and regulatory filings for the Canadian market.
Therapeutic Applications and Mechanism
Ranibizumab is a recombinant humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody fragment that binds to and inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). The biosimilar's therapeutic indications encompass treatment of patients with neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO), diabetic macular edema (DME), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and choroidal neovascularization (CNV).
Strategic Vision and Market Impact
"We are delighted to partner with Sandoz for the launch and commercialization of ranibizumab in multiple markets globally," said Thierry Volle, President EMEA and Emerging Markets at Lupin. "This partnership underscores our shared vision to expand global access to cutting-edge biologic therapies and improve outcomes for underserved patients."
The collaboration represents a significant expansion of Lupin's biosimilar portfolio reach, leveraging Sandoz's established commercial infrastructure across multiple regions while maintaining Lupin's manufacturing capabilities and regulatory expertise. The partnership structure allows both companies to capitalize on their respective strengths in bringing this biosimilar therapy to patients with serious retinal conditions worldwide.
