Biocon Biologics inks pact to expand access to its cancer biosimilars

Biocon Biologics is an arm of biotechnology major Biocon

Biocon Biologics, an arm of biotechnology major Biocon, on Thursday said it has signed a pact with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) to expand access to life-saving cancer biosimilars in over 30 countries in Africa and Asia as a part of the Cancer Access Partnership.

The partnershipis a significant step in delivering advanced cancer therapies to patients who need them themost and ensuring equitable access to high-quality biosimilars in low- and middle-incomecountries (LMICs), Biocon Biologics said in a statement.

Biocon Biologics willinitially supply biosimilar Trastuzumab and biosimilar Pegfilgrastim and will expand the arrangement to includeother biosimilars,it added.

Biocon Biologics Executive ChairpersonKiran Mazumdar-Shaw said, "The collaboration with CHAI further strengthens our resolve to address the unmet patient needs in Asia and Africa for advanced cancer therapies through cost effective alternatives to expensive reference biologics."

This is an extension of "our commitment to enable universal access to cancer patients following the initiation of our Mission 10 cents to provide insulins for people with diabetes in LMICs", she added.

In a similar vein, Biocon Biologics CEOChristiane Hamacher said the company is reimagining access to biologics in LMICs through strategic partnerships with globalhealth organisations.

"We are committed to reducing the high cost of cancer care forhealthcare systems through our biosimilars and are pleased to address the needs of patientsin Africa and Asia through the Cancer Access Partnership (CAP)", she added.

Biocon Biologics is leveraging its science, scale and expertise to shift the access paradigm for patients in need of biosimilars across the globe, the statement said.

"Expanding the Cancer Access Partnership to include high quality biologics from Biocon takes us another step closer to ensuring that cancer patients have access to the quality medications that they need at an affordable price, no matter where they live",CHAI CEO Ian Barton said.