Biogen Idec has granted UCB rights to sell its multiple sclerosis and haemophilia drugs drugs in Asia.
Specifically, the Belgian drugmaker will promote drugs such as Avonex (interferon beta-1a), Tysabri (natalizumab), the MS pill Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate) and Fampyra, a prolonged-release formulation of fampridine to improve walking in adults with MS. The deal also covers Eloctate and Alprolix, Biogen’s investigational long-acting recombinant candidates for haemophilia A and B, respectively.
UCB will sell the products in South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, and both firms will develop and commercialise them in China. Carlos Dourado, head of emerging markets at Biogen, said that by leveraging UCB’s “extensive resources, expertise and infrastructure in Asia, we believe we can grow our footprint in critical Asian markets, get our therapies to patients more quickly and create a foundation for further commercial success in this region”.
Mohamed Chaoui, head of Asia Pacific at UCB, said the deal “further supports our strategic goal to strengthen our leadership and expertise in biologics in both neurology and immunology in China and the Asian region”.
