Health Boards
India has picked up another biosimilar for the treatment of psoriasis. This one is a biosimilar of Humira (adalimumab) and will be known as Adfrar.
Source: torrentpharma.com
Quote:
Ahmedabad based Torrent Pharma enters New Year 2016 by announcing the launch of biosimilar Adalimumab in India under the brand name ‘Adfrar’.
Adalimumab is the most preferred therapy for the treatment of auto immune disorders and has wide applications like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Ulcerative Colitis and Plaque Psoriasis. Adalimumab is the largest selling drug across the globe (innovator brand Humira has sales of 15 billion USD). Torrent’s brand ‘Adfrar’ will be the second biosimilar Adalimumab in the world.
Autoimmune disorders are growing ailments and Monoclonal Antibodies (MAb’s) are becoming mainstay of treatment, therefore launch of ‘Adfrar’ is a significant step towards fortifying its presence in MAb market.
Biosimilar Rituximab - ‘Toritz RA’ is already launched in Rheumatology segment and now with launch of biosimilar Adalimumab - ‘Adfrar’, Torrent presence in this segment will get a major fillip, making it a significant player in this super speciality.
‘Adfrar’ will be available as Pre Filled Syringe of 40mg. Torrent will promote this biosimilar to Rheumatologists, Gastroenterologists and Dermatologists pan India, for which three separate super specialty task force have been introduced. Around 100 highly trained professionals are employed in these Greenfield divisions.
This super speciality team, besides promoting biosimilar Adalimumab – ‘Adfrar IB’ to Gastroenterologists, will also cater to the advanced therapy needs in Hepatology. Torrent has launched new generation Hep C Antiviral Sofosbuvir – ‘Sofocruz’, a combination of Sofosbuvir + Ledipasvir - ‘Sofocruz LP’ and Daclatasvir – ‘Daclacruz’. Moreover, the company has also launched Hep B Antiviral Tenofovir – ‘Tenocruz’.
Torrent is already marketing biosimilar Rituximab ‘Toritz’ in Oncology segment, while a super specialty division for Nephrology launched in 2014 is marketing biosimilar Darbepoetin alpha - ‘Darbatitor’.
Regarding the expected business from these biosimilars, Executive Director - Marketing of Torrent Pharma Mr.Ruchir Modi said that since inception, its focus was never with business intent alone, rather it is a by product. Its purpose has always been to launch specialty niche products to address unmet medical needs arising from major life threatening diseases and reach out to maximum number of patients to offer cost effective treatment with latest quality drugs. He further added that with introduction of these new super specialty divisions, Torrent Pharma now covers most of the specialties and in near future plans to enter Urology and Opthalmology segments to cover the therapy gaps with strategic fit products.
Source: torrentpharma.com
