AstraZeneca seals deal for Indian asthma drug
Pharma company’s new partnership is an “opportunity” to accelerate access and maximise the potential of AstraZenica’s asthma drug | Delhi-based pharma firm will provide valuable distribution channels.
AstraZeneca has signed an exclusive agreement to distribute a blockbuster asthma treatment with a Delhi-based firm Mankind Pharma across India, the US pharma company has confirmed.
Under the deal, announced yesterday, March 11, AstraZeneca's budesonide and formoterol—sold under the brand name Symbicort, will be made available throughout the country.
Symbicort had a total revenue from worldwide sales of $2.4 billion in 2023, and remained the global leader in so-called combination asthma treatments.
This collaboration aims to use Mankind Pharma's distribution network, comprising nearly 16,000 members and more than 13,000 stockists nationwide, including small towns and rural areas.
India is facing an asthma crisis—accounting for 43% of global deaths from this condition in 2023, according to AstraZeneca’s statement.
The country faces a critical need for improved asthma management
Sanjeev Panchal, country president and managing director of AstraZeneca India, said: “Our aspiration is to be pioneers in science and lead in specialist disease areas. We are focused on transforming outcomes for patients and contributing sustainably to people, society and the planet.
The partnership between the pharmaceutical companies is an “opportunity” to accelerate access and maximise the potential of AstraZenica’s asthma drug as well as the turbuhale, Panchal explained.
“As much as we are excited to bring innovative medicine to India fast, we are equally invested in improving access strategically in the country,” he added.
AstraZeneca will keep the IP rights for budesonide and formoterol, and will continue to be the marketing authorisation holder and import licence.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mankind Pharma is set to distribute and market the product Symbicort exclusively in India for a duration of five years.
Atish Majumdar, president-sales and marketing at Mankind Pharma, said: “We are excited to partner with AstraZeneca to make their innovative therapy flagship brand Symbicort, a global standard in treating Asthma.”
“Through our field forces’ extensive outreach, we hope to strengthen access across urban and rural markets,” Majumdar added.
