Dr. Reddy’s Partners with FUJIFILM and Global Response Aid for Avigan® (favipiravir), a Potential Treatment of COVID-19
Further, FUJIFILM would receive an upfront license fee and royalties on sales from Dr. Reddys and GRA.
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (BSE: 500124, NSE: DRREDDY, NYSE: RDY, hereafter referred to as “Dr. Reddy’s”) announces partnering with FUJIFILM Corporation through FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical Co. Ltd. (hereafter referred to as “FUJIFILM”) and Global Response Aid (hereafter referred to as “GRA”) for the development, manufacture and sales of Avigan® Tablets (generic name: favipiravir), a potential treatment of COVID-19.
Under the tripartite agreement signed on 30th June 2020, FUJIFILM grants Dr. Reddy’s the exclusive rights of manufacturing and also grants both Dr. Reddy’s and GRA the rights to develop, sell and distribute Avigan® in all countries other than Japan, China and Russia. Dr. Reddy’s would have exclusive rights for development, selling and distribution of Avigan® in India. Further, FUJIFILM would receive an upfront license fee and royalties on sales from Dr. Reddy’s and GRA.
FUJIFILM will provide Dr. Reddy’s and GRA with an array of data on Avigan®’s preclinical and clinical studies that FUJIFILM has accumulated thus far. Dr. Reddy’s and GRA will use this data for clinical studies targeting COVID-19 in regions where infection has been spreading. In addition, FUJIFILM will grant Dr.Reddy’s right to use Avigan®’s patents of formulation and manufacturing method. Dr. Reddy’s will herewith establish a setup for manufacturing drugs of the same quality as Avigan®, and utilize GRA’s global sales network to supply the manufactured drugs swiftly and in a stable manner.
The FUJIFILM Group is currently conducting a clinical study on Avigan® targeting COVID-19 patients in Japan and the US, and is working to increase the drug’s production by partnering with domestic and overseas companies. Dr. Reddy’s and GRA shall introduce the product in the market post all applicable approvals in the respective countries.
About Avigan® Tablets
Avigan® Tablet, developed by FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical, was approved for manufacture and sale in Japan in 2014 as an influenza antiviral drug. The drug is to be considered for use only when there is an outbreak of novel or re-emerging influenza virus infections in which other influenza antiviral drugs are either not effective or insufficiently effective, and the Japanese government decides to use the drug as a countermeasure against such influenza viruses.
About Dr. Reddy’s: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (BSE: 500124, NSE: DRREDDY, NYSE: RDY, hereinafter “Dr. Reddy's”) is an integrated pharmaceutical company, committed to providing affordable and innovative medicines for healthier lives. Through its three businesses - Pharmaceutical Services & Active Ingredients, Global Generics and Proprietary Products – Dr. Reddy's offers a portfolio of products and services including APIs, custom pharmaceutical services, generics, biosimilars and differentiated formulations. Our major therapeutic areas of focus are gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, diabetology, oncology, pain management and dermatology. Dr. Reddy's operates in markets across the globe. Our major markets include – USA, India, Russia & CIS countries, and Europe. For more information, log on to: www.drreddys.com
About FUJIFILM Corporation, Tokyo, Japan is one of the major operating companies of FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation. The company brings cutting edge solutions to a broad range of global industries by leveraging its depth of knowledge and fundamental technologies developed in its relentless pursuit of innovation. Its proprietary core technologies contribute to the various fields including healthcare, graphic systems, highly functional materials, optical devices, digital imaging and document products. These products and services are based on its extensive portfolio of chemical, mechanical, optical, electronic and imaging technologies. For the year ended March 31, 2020, the company had global revenues of $21 billion, at an exchange rate of 109 yen to the dollar. Fujifilm is committed to responsible environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit: holdings.fujifilm.com
About Global Response Aid
Global Response Aid (hereinafter “GRA”), based in Dubai, provides solutions to public health challenges. GRA was established by global logistics leader Agility to procure and develop certified diagnostic, testing and protective products and services used in the detection, treatment and prevention of COVID-19 and other public health threats. GRA works with trusted manufacturers to source safe, effective products for governments, health authorities and public institutions; frontline medical facilities; NGOs; and companies looking to safeguard workers and workplaces. GRA-sourced products include ventilators, thermal detection equipment, thermometers, masks, goggles, protective suits, nitrile gloves, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and point-of-care test kits. GRA's mobile phone app helps stop the spread of viruses through the use of community-driven contact tracing and alerts. GRA also deploys Mobile Diagnostic Testing Vehicles and trained teams that perform COVID-19 testing at schools and workplaces. For more information, please visit https://globalresponseaid.com/
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