INDIA BUSINESS WORLD SEPTEMBER (16^th - 30^th) 2007
The Month that was ...

RANBAXY ENTERS INTO AN EXCLUSIVE IN-LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH AUSTRALIAN CO SIRTEX MEDICAL TO SELL LIVER CANCER DRUG

DOMESTIC drug major Ranbaxy has entered into an exclusive in-licensing agreement with Australian company Sirtex Medical to promote and market US Foods and Drugs Authority approved liver cancer drug SIR-Spheres in the Indian subcontinent. The drug is used for the treatment of patients with inoperable tumours from primary colorectal cancer that have spread to the liver, a Ranbaxy release said.

Ranbaxy senior VP & regional director, Asia & CIS, Sanjeev Dani said, "We are partnering with Sirtex for this unique, high technology product. We shall work towards creating a productive relationship by complementing each others strengths. The agreement will enable Ranbaxy to further strengthen our position in Oncology Segment." Ranbaxy will market the drug in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Ranbaxy is also planning to foray into oncology drug segment in the US and may file abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA) for anti-cancer drugs in the US with its partner, Hyderabad-based Zenotech.

SIR-Spheres are biocompatible radio-active micro-spheres that contain yttrium-90 and emit beta radiation. They are implanted using a syringe and travel via the blood stream and target the tumour in the liver. SIR-Spheres have been used to treat liver cancer patients in Australia, USA, Europe, New Zealand and Asia in a variety of clinical trials and general practice.

The drug is also used for the treatment of common liver cancers - Hepato-Cellular Cancer (HCC) and Colorectal Cancer (CRC). HCC is fifth most common cancer in the world and fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. According to 2001 estimates in India, about 12,750 new patients were diagnosed to have HCC. In India, prevalence of HCC is about 5 patients per lakh population. Currently, the prevalence of CRC in India is close to 4 cases per lakh population.