Sun Pharma, U.S.-Based Rockwell Form Pact To Bring Triferic Drug In India

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has entered into a licensing agreement with U.S.-based Rockwell Medical Inc. to commercialise Triferic in India.

Triferic an iron replacement and haemoglobin maintenance drug. It is the only U.S. FDA-approved therapy in that country indicated to replace iron and maintain haemoglobin in hemodialysis patients via dialysate during each dialysis treatment.

"Sun Pharma....today announced that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries has entered into exclusive licensing and supply agreements with Rockwell Medical Inc. (Rockwell), to commercialise Rockwell's Triferic, a proprietary iron replacement and haemoglobin maintenance drug, for treating anaemia in hemodialysis patients in India," the Indian drugmaker said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday.

As per the terms of the agreement, Sun Pharma will be the exclusive development and commercialisation partner for Triferic during the term of the pact, subject to approval in India.

In consideration for the licence, Rockwell will be eligible for upfront and milestone payments as well as royalty on net sales, the regulatory filing said, adding that "the financial terms of the agreement are confidential".

"Triferic is an innovative anaemia therapy for the patients who are undergoing haemodialysis and offers a unique treatment option. Triferic will help Sun Pharma expand its portfolio in its core therapy areas," Kirti Ganorkar, chief executive officer of Sun Pharma’s India business, said in the exchange filing.

According to the 2017 Global Burden of Disease Study, chronic kidney disease was the tenth leading cause of mortality in India, having risen from 14th in 2007.