Glenmark to market Helsinn's chemo-induced nausea drug in India, Nepal

Mumbai: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals announced that it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Swiss firm Helsinn Group to introduce Akynzeo, used for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in India and Nepal.

Akynzeo is an oral fixed combination of netupitant 300 mg and palonosetron 0.5 mg in capsule form. The licensing agreement with Glenmark represents Helsinn's first such agreement in India.

Glenmark will have exclusive marketing rights for drug in India and Nepal, a statement issued here said.

Akynzeo was developed by Helsinn and is currently marketed in EU, in the US, and several other leading markets.

Glenmark has received marketing approval for Akynzeo from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).

"We are happy to partner with Helsinn, a leader in cancer supportive care. The drug will help Indian patients undergoing chemotherapy and struggling to manage CINV to address this issue in a much better manner," Glenmark president - India Formulations, Middle East, and Africa Sujesh Vasudevan said.

"The launch of the drug will fortify our presence in oncology, which is a key therapeutic focus area for the company," he added.

"We are excited to begin our first collaboration agreement in India with our new partner Glenmark Pharmaceuticals. The key anti-emetic product will be made available to more patients suffering from the side effects of cancer treatment in the important markets of India and Nepal," Helsinn Group Chief Commercial Officer Andrea Meoli said.

Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed cancer care products and a robust drug development pipeline.