Sanofi launches multiple sclerosis drug in India

Aubagio® offers patients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis the efficacy and convenience of once-a-day oral treatment

Over 200,000 people in India are living with Multiple Sclerosis

Bengaluru: Sanofi Genzyme, the specialty care global business unit of Sanofi, brings to India - Aubagio®, from its international Multiple Sclerosis (MS) portfolio.

A chronic and debilitating disease of the nervous system, Multiple Sclerosis has varied symptoms like weakness in the limbs, poor vision, fatigue or slurred speech.

Aubagio® (Teriflunomide, 14 mg) is the first original ‘once-daily’ oral ‘disease-modifying therapy’ (DMT) for Multiple Sclerosis to be approved in India. It offers an effective, safe and a convenient option that is indicated as a first-line treatment for relapsing forms of Multiple Sclerosis that must be taken once a day, with or without food.

Commenting on the launch, N. Rajaram, Managing Director, Sanofi India said, “There are around two lakh people living with this disease in India. Increasingly, new cases are being detected due to greater awareness and access to better diagnostic facilities. For over a decade Sanofi has invested in developing and delivering novel therapeutic solutions for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis around the world; and is now bringing Aubagio®, our original research product to India.”

He further added, “This product has the potential to offer an efficacious and convenient treatment regimen of just once a day oral tablet, vis-à-vis commonly available injectable treatment options. With Aubagio®, we reaffirm Sanofi Genzyme’s commitment to improve and empower the lives of people with debilitating diseases in India.”

Dr. Shalini Menon, Country Medical Director, South Asia, Sanofi said, “Aubagio® is a differentiated disease-modifying therapy, that blocks the enzyme involved in a multiplication of overactive immune cells. When taken daily, Aubagio® reduces the number of overactive immune cells that cause the disease flare-ups, while still allowing normal immune cell activity to occur. It is important to note that Aubagio® has demonstrated consistent efficacy in reducing the frequency of relapses, delaying the progression of physical disability and, arresting further decrease in brain volume. In addition, since Aubagio® is an oral medicine, people with Multiple Sclerosis will find it very convenient and can continue with long-term treatment.”

First approved by the US FDA in 2012, Aubagio® has a strong global presence today with approvals in more than 81 countries. It has been extensively studied in >5,500 patients with up to 13 years of clinical and follow-up studies with proven clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability outcomes. Globally >85,000 patients with Multiple Sclerosis are benefitting from the use of Aubagio®.

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune, debilitating disease of the nervous system that affects the spinal cord and brain. In Multiple Sclerosis, there is progressive damage to the sheath that protects nerve cells, impairing communication between the brain and the nervous system.

Signs and symptoms vary from one person to another and may include: weakness and numbness in the limbs, poor vision, tingling and pain in parts of the body, unsteady gait, lack of coordination, fatigue or slurred speech.

Most people develop a ‘relapsing-remitting’ form of Multiple Sclerosis where symptoms (‘relapses’) may last for days or weeks and then improve completely or partially. This is then followed by a period of remission that could last for months or even years.

Multiple Sclerosis is a common cause of disability that usually affects young persons during their most productive years but only 45% of all patients are correctly diagnosed.

Research shows across the world, over 2.3 million people are living with Multiple Sclerosis.

Aubagio® is an innovator product with almost 13 years of proven clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability data, and is a best in class medication for relapsing and remitting Multiple Sclerosis.

It is a differentiated Disease-Modifying Therapy (DMT), which works by blocking the enzyme needed for immune cells to keep multiplying at an overactive rate.

When taken daily, Aubagio® reduces the number of overactive immune cells [that causes the disease flare-ups, while still allowing normal immune cell activity to occur]. Unlike other medicines, Aubagio® is India’s first innovator ‘once-daily’ oral pill to treat Multiple Sclerosis in India.

It can be taken any time of the day, with or without food. This ensures patient adherence and convenience, both of which are missing in currently available Multiple Sclerosis therapies.