Page 55 - CW E-Magazine (Oct-Nov-2023)

Happenings

Lupin gets $25-mn from
AbbVie for advancing
cancer treatment research

Mumbai-based Lupin has re-
ceived a milestone payment of $25-mn
(around Rs. 205-crore) from American
drug major, AbbVie, for the successful
initiation of Phase 1 clinical trials on its
novel oncology product to treat haema-
tological cancers.
Gujarat government inks fields such as precision fermentation
MoUs with 15 biotech and animal tissue cultivation, and are The two companies had inked a
companies to come across various districts of the licensing, development, and commer-
State, ranging from Kutch and Devbhu- cialisation agreement in 2018 involving
mi-Dwarka to Vapi and Valsad. Lupin’s novel MALT1 (Mucosa-As-
The government of Gujarat has sociated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma
signed Memorandums of Understand- Ami Organics to supply Translocation
ing (MoUs) worth Rs. 2,000-crore in a Protein 1) inhib-
single day for new investments in the pharma intermediate to
state’s biotechnology sector. The MoU Fermion itor programme
targeting a range
was signed by Science Technology Sec- of haematologi-
retary, Mr. Vijay Nehra on behalf of the Ami Organics, the Surat-based cal cancers.
State Government and representatives manufacturer of APIs and special-
of 15 companies (13 from Gujarat, one ity chemicals, has signed a multi-year Lupin had previously received
from Maharashtra and one from Delhi). agreement with Fermion, a fully-owned an upfront payment of $30-mn from
subsidiary of Orion Corporation, Fin- AbbVie, and the company was eli-
Approximately 3,000 jobs are ex- land, to supply an additional advanced gible to get up to $947-mn in mile-
pected to be created in the upcoming pharmaceutical intermediate. stone payments, as stated by the com-
biotech industries as a result of this panies. Lupin was also entitled to
MoU. Based on the supply projection receive a double-digit royalty on the
shared by Fermion, the total mini- sales of the product and retain com-
The MoUs signed with the state mum contract value is expected to be mercial rights to the programme in
government encompass various promi- “multi-million dollar, spread across (a) India.
nent companies, including Ambio multi-year horizon”, according to an
from Maharashtra and Biotrends India exchange filing by Ami Organics. The Through this partnership, AbbVie
from New Delhi, alongside several lo- product is expected to start contribut- had exclusive global rights to develop
cal industrial units in Gujarat. Notable ing meaningfully to the revenue from and commercialise Lupin’s MALT1 in-
companies such as Zydus Lifesciences, FY25. The time period for execution of hibitors. “MALT1 is a protein involved
Concord Biotech, and Hester Biosci- the project is three years, with automat- in T-cell and B-cell lymphocyte acti-
ences have committed investments ic renewal for additional terms of two vation and AbbVie intends to pursue
totalling Rs. 1,000-crore. Addition- years each. development across a range of haema-
ally, Meteoric Bio-Pharmaceutical has tological cancers, many with limited
pledged investments of around Rs. Ami Organics had signed its first current treatment options,” the compa-
500-crore. The list further includes En- agreement with Fermion in November nies said in 2018.
doc Biotech, Gujarat Themis Biocene, 2022 for supply of an advanced phar-
Steviatech Life, Celexis Biosciences, maceutical intermediate. This agree- Lupin’s MALT1 inhibitor devel-
and Kaniva Bioscience. ment is in addition to previous agree- oped as part of its oncology pipeline
ment and further increases the total had previously shown pre-clinical ac-
The MoU span fermentation-based value of the CDMO contract with Fer- tivity as a single agent as well as in
APIs, bio-fertilisers, and emerging mion. combination, the company said.

Chemical Weekly October / November 2023 51