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Journalism of Courage
Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with UK-based pharmaceutical company KS Biomedix Ltd for marketing the latter’s TransMID biopharmaceutical product (used in treatment of brain cancer) in India.
Ranbaxy will have the option to extend this arrangement to China and other south east Asian markets. The product is about to enter phase III trials and is in development for the treatment of high-grade glioma, a terminal brain cancer for which there is no known cure.
A Ranbaxy press release stated that a study conducted at leading neuro-oncology centres in the US showed highly promising clinical response rates and an improvement in survival times in patients with recurrent brain cancer. The US Federal Drug Authority (FDA) has granted TransMID fast track status for the treatment of malignant tumours of the central nervous system.
Ranbaxy’s president (pharmaceuticals) Brian Tempest said, “The emerging IPR (intellectual property rights) scenario will demand extensive networking amongst pharmaceutical companies and Ranbaxy is well positioned to lead this trend”.
He added that the company would continue to provide “novel products for Indian customers”. Speaking specifically about the new cancer drug, Tempest said, “We are very excited to add TransMID to our portfolio and believe that this product will help us strengthen our position in the high value oncology segment.”
The company said that it would augment its existing portfolio with proprietary products through in-licensing and in-house development to prepare for a product patent regime that will be enforced in 2005. KSB chief executive officer Steven Powell said the latest agreement (with Ranbaxy) is the fourth territory licensed for TransMID this year.
