Hikma, Celltrion Healthcare sign up for anti-cancer drug

Hikma Pharmaceuticals, a multinational firm, has signed a new exclusive licensing deal with Celltrion Healthcare Co, a global biopharmaceutical company, for Vegzelma (CT-P16, bevacizumab) anti-cancer drug.

Under the terms of the agreement, Celltrion Healthcare will be responsible for the development, manufacturing and supply of Vegzelma and Hikma will be responsible for the commercialisation of the product in all its Mena markets, providing better access to a much-needed oncology product.

Vegzelma is a biosimilar to Avastin (bevacizumab) and is a US FDA and EMA approved anti-cancer monoclonal antibody treatment. The new agreement builds on Hikma’s long-standing partnership with Celltrion Healthcare and expands Hikma’s biosimilar portfolio, a key focus of its strategy.

Seventh biosimilar

Through its existing partnership with Celltrion Healthcare, Vegzelma (CT-P16, bevacizumab) is the seventh biosimilar to be added to Hikma’s portfolio, which includes the following six products – Truxima (rituximab), Remsima (intravenous infliximab), Herzuma (trastuzumab), Remsima SC (subcutaneous infliximab), YuflymaTM (adalimumab), and CT-P43 (ustekinumab).

Commenting on the latest agreement with Celltrion Healthcare, Mazen Darwazah, Hikma’s Executive Vice Chairman and President of Mena, said: “We are very excited to be building on our long-term partnership with Celltrion Healthcare. Vegzelma is an important oncology biosimilar and this partnership will help increase patients’ access to a critical medication in the region.”