MUMBAI (INDIA) & PRINCETON NJ (USA) – 22 December 2016: Sun Pharma (Reuters: SUN.BO, Bloomberg: SUNP IN, NSE: SUNPHARMA, BSE: 524715, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and includes its subsidiaries or associate companies today announced its plans to acquire a branded oncology product, Odomzo, from Novartis. The agreement has been signed between subsidiaries of both the companies and will close following anti-trust clearance and further closing conditions. The agreement has been signed for an upfront payment of US$ 175 million and additional milestone payments. Odomzo® (Sonidegib) was approved by the US FDA in July 2015. Odomzo is a hedgehog pathway inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma (laBCC) that has recurred following surgery or radiation therapy, or those who are not candidates for surgery or radiation therapy. Approximately 70% of the prescribers are dermatologists and rests are oncologists for this class of drug. According to IMS Health, the hedgehog inhibitor class grew by 40% Oct 2016 YTD versus prior year. Importantly new data supporting the use of Odomzo® were presented at ASCO in June 2016. Data from the BOLT trial showed continued antitumor activity for more than 26 months in patients treated with Odomzo® with no new safety concerns. At the 30-month follow-up, patients with locally advanced BCC had an overall response rate (ORR) as per central review of 56% with Odomzo® 200 mg.1 The most frequent grade 3 and 4 adverse reactions occurring in more than 2% of patients were fatigue, decreased weight and muscle spasms.2
According to Mr Kirti Ganorkar, Global Head – Business Development – Sun Pharma, “Odomzo gives us an opportunity to meaningfully expand our already established branded dermatology business and support our expansion into Branded Oncology with a launched brand. We see meaningful global potential for Odomzo by leveraging Sun Pharma’s existing dermatology and oncology infrastructure to provide an innovative product to BCC patients worldwide.”
According to Mr Jesper Jensen, Head – Biologics and Dermatology, Sun Pharma,”We look forward to collaborating with the medical community to bring this novel therapy to the market to patients suffering from locally advanced basal cell carcinoma. Odomzo complements and enhances our existing Dermatology franchise. This acquisition has the potential to leverage and expand the relationships that our Levulan sales team have with the Dermatologists that treat common pre-cancerous skin conditions.”
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