Zydus Cadila, an innovative, global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and market a broad range of healthcare therapies has announced the launch of the biosimilar of Adalimumab, the world's largest selling therapy. Zydus becomes the first company in the world to launch this biosimilar product.
The therapy provide a new lease of life to millions of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and other auto immune disorders globally, it will now be accessible to patients in India.
Developed by the researchers at the Zydus Research Centre, the biosimilar has been approved by the Drug Controller General of India and will be marketed under the brand name, Exemptia to treat auto immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Adalimumab, the fully human anti-TNF alpha monoclonal antibody, was first approved globally in 2002 and has since then been the most preferred therapy to treat patients suffering from auto immune disorders. However, the therapy was not available to patients in India. It is estimated that more than 12 million patients in India suffer from these chronic conditions which progressively deteriorate and lead to lifelong pain and in some case, even disability.
Speaking on the breakthrough, Zydus Cadila deputy managing director Sharvil P. Patel said, "At Zydus, we believe that innovations must bridge unmet healthcare needs and provide solutions to patients who are suffering from disease and disability especially in such chronic conditions. This therapy will offer a new lease of life to millions in India who did not have access to this therapy so far. We are happy to offer them hope, freedom from pain and better quality of life through Exemptia."
Exemptia is given as a 40 mg subcutaneous injection once every alternate week. Patients normally would have to take the treatment for six months. It has been clinically observed that the therapy is able to arrest the degeneration and the patient goes into remission - which means the auto immune disorders is under control and the patient is able to live a life without pain and can actually lead a fully active life.
Zydus will offer a dedicated Exemptia Care support programme to patients and caregivers. The programme shall provide important support and information regarding access, adherence, awareness and thereby help patients to appropriately manage their disease.
The therapy would be marketed by Zydus Biovation - a new division launched to exclusively market this ground breaking therapy. The launch of Exemptia begins with a series of CMEs and scientific symposia to highlight the gaps in the current management of auto immune disorders.