In an important development, MSD, one of the world’s leading players in 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines (PPV) category, and Indian pharma major Lupin recently entered into a strategic India specific partnership, which will give Lupin a non-exclusive license to market, promote and distribute MSD’s 23-valent PPV under a different brand name in India.

PPV addresses the need of prevention of pneumococcal disease in India with its proven efficacy and broader coverage. PPV23 provides broader coverage and has proven efficacy for prevention of pneumococcal diseases which help addresses the need of prevention of pneumococcal disease in India. Based on the clinical experience since last three decades, PPV23 has good safety profile. Recent India focused study showed that more than 80 per cent of invasive serotype groups of streptococcus pneumoniae causing disease in the elderly in India are included in the formulation of PPV 23 which makes this vaccine relevant from India perspective.

Speaking about the partnership, K G Ananthakrishnan, managing director, MSD in India said, “MSD has a rich legacy of developing vaccines to prevent some of the world’s leading diseases. This partnership is aligned with our commitment towards patients in India and also addressing treatment challenges for high risk patients by providing broader access to our innovative medicines and vaccines. It is a perfect amalgamation as MSD brings the research and scientific excellence for PPV, and Lupin brings their marketing excellence, significant reach among key clinician categories to drive product access. MSD and Lupin both share the same commitment of providing broader access to a larger at risk adult population, driving vaccination rate and reducing fatality, which is core to this unique collaboration in vaccines.”

Shakti Chakraborty, group president, India and CIS countries, Lupin said that the they are pleased to be associated with MSD in India as this partnership bears testimony to Lupin’s leadership credentials in the Indian Pharmaceutical Market (IPM), 2.8 per cent market share of the overall IPM (IMS TSA MAT, March 2013), not to mention leadership specifically in the cardiovascular, diabetes and respiratory therapy segments as also our existing market reach within the IPM. “We believe that the partnership is an important step-forward as both companies share a common passion and commitment to make a meaningful difference to the lives of patients suffering from pneumococcal diseases in India,” he added.

Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by bacteria named streptococcus pneumoniae and it results in variety of invasive and non-invasive pneumococcal diseases with pneumonia being the most common presentation in adults. Pneumococcal disease kills more patients worldwide than any other vaccine preventable diseases. Worldwide 1.6 million people die of pneumococcal disease every year which translates to three people dying every minute. Adults with co morbid conditions like chronic lung disease (COPD etc.), diabetes, chronic heart diseases, chronic liver diseases, immune compromised diseases as well as adults more than 65 years of age are at increased risk for pneumococcal diseases than healthy adults.

A recent study from India showed that the case fatality rate due to invasive pneumococcal disease observed in elderly is 26.4 per cent which is much higher than that in children and highlights the need for preventive interventions in adults. Identifying this significant risk, this partnership is built on a patient centric model, which will help improve vaccination rate for pneumococcal disease, in particular to high risk population group to help reduce incidence and mortality in adults.