Intas, Apotex to develop cancer drug

Intas Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (IBPL) has joined hands with Canadian drug major Apotex Inc to co-develop and market the low-cost version of a biotech cancer medicine filgrastim (G-CSF) in North America and Europe.

"IBPL and Apotex are eying a significant share of total G-CSF market in
North America and Europe, which is currently estimated to be around $1.4 billion annually. Although guidelines for biosimilar product registration in North America are not yet finalised, the companies anticipate that there
would be a clear pathway for bio-tech companies, once the legislation is in
place", Mani Iyer, executive director, IBPL said.

IBPL and Apotex are keen to explore prospective business opportunities for more biosimilar products in the coming years, Iyer added.

The IBPL-Apotex deal happened after IBPL's former drug development and marketing partner, European drug major Kwizda Pharma, transferred all its rights in IBPL's G-CSF to Apotex.