Biocon, Asia's premier biotechnology company, is looking for partner to develop and market its novel biologic drug Itolizumab, branded as ‘Alzumab’. In January 2013, the company had received marketing authorization for Itolizumab from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). The company as such has not identified any potential partners and about the financial contours of the partnership for Itolizumab. It is currently preparing launch of the product in India. This is the company’s second novel biologic developed in India, BioMab EGFR, an anti-cancer monoclonal antibody, being the first.
Itolizumab is used for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis worldwide. Psoriasis is an inflammatory auto-immune skin disease that follows a typical relapsing and remitting course with the disease affecting 2-3% of the world’s population. The global market for the psoriasis treatments is expected to reach $8 billion by 2016.
Biocon is India’s premier biotechnology company with a strategic focus on biopharmaceuticals and research services. Biocon produces anti-diabetic agents like Acarbose, Pioglitazone, Repaglinides and Rosiglitazone. In the biological segment it produces Insulin, Erythropoietin (EPO), Filgrastim (GCSF), Streptokinase and Monoclonal Antibodies.
