Dive Brief:
- Indian generics maker Dr. Reddy's and Amgen have broadened a collaboration agreement which allows Dr. Reddy's to market and distribute a number of Amgen drugs in India.
- Under the new deal terms, Dr. Reddy's will now market Amgen's Xgeva (denosumab), Vectibix (panitumumab) and Prolia (denosumab) in the Indian market. The extension brings the total number of Amgen drugs covered by the partnership to six.
- Financial terms have not been disclosed for this or the original 2015 agreement.
Dive Insight:
The Indian pharma market — third largest in the world by volume — is expected to outperform the global market with a growth rate of 15% between 2015 and 2020, according to the India Brand Equity Foundation. This growth will bring the India market's value as high as $55 billion, making the country an appealing target for European and U.S. pharma companies.
The original collaboration between Amgen and Dr. Reddy's covered the oncology and cholesterol drugs Kyprolis (carfilzomib), Blincyto (blinatumomab) and Repatha (evolocumab).
Dr. Reddy's will now market and distribute Amgen's Prolia, an osteoporosis drug; Xgeva, approved to treate skeletal issues associated with bone cancers; and Vectibix, an EGFR-antagonist for metastatic colorectal cancer.
The osteoporosis and cancer markets in India are likely to grow as the Indian population ages and rising incomes opens up access to healthcare for a greater number of people.
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories is the third largest publicly-listed pharmaceutical company in India and markets a large number of generics in addition to producing APIs for major pharmaceutical companies.