Nicholas Piramal (NPIL), will be launching Avonex (Interferon beta 1a), a leading life-saving therapy for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in India and Nepal through a marketing alliance with the US based Biogen Idec. Biogen Idec is currently the world's third largest biotech company. Avonex is at present a US$ 1 billion brand of Biogen Idec and it will be market by NPIL's Biotech division through the marketing tie-up.

The drug, which is now available in pre-filled syringe (PFS), is the first proven treatment for effective management of relapsing Multiple Sclerosis, according to Dimitri Spiessens, senior manger, international distributor, Biogen Idec. The brand, Avonex, which was launched in the US in 1996 and later in 1997 in Europe and is marketed in more than 65 countries, is already in use in more than 130,000 patients across the world. However, the market size in India is still not clear as the number of patients is not yet estimated in the country. However, NPIL targets a sales volume to the tune of around 3 lakh in the first year of launch from this tiny segment.

A high cost treatment the brand will be priced at Rs 9000 per doze, which is a once-a week injection for the treatment, said Swati Piramal, director, Strategic Alliances and Communication, NPIL. Avonex is latest addition into NPIL's biotech division. Recently the company has launched another biotech product, which is a natural lung surfactant branded as Curosurf, for premature babies with Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Curosurf is a product of Chiese Farmaceutici, a European pharmaceutical company headquartered in Parma, Italy

Biogen Idec is a S2.3 billion biotechnology major, headquartered in US.

Announcing the tie-up with Biogen Idec, Dr. Swati Piramal, said that the tie-up with Biogen Idec is in line with their strategy of being the 'Partner of Choice' and to bring new, innovative therapies to the Indian market. "Avonex will further accelerate our already vibrant growth in the biotechnology segment," she added.

According experts, Multiple Sclerosis is the result of damage to myelin - a protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the Central Nervous System. When myelin is damaged, this interferes with messages between the brain and other parts of the body. Multiple sclerosis is a very variable condition and the symptoms depend on which areas of the CNS have been affected. There is no set pattern to MS and everyone has a different set of symptoms, which vary from time to time and can change in severity and duration, even in the same person.

While, the Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is caused due to deficiency of pulmonary surfactant in premature babies. The onset of symptoms occur before 6 hrs of age causing depletion of surfactant in lungs leads to alveoli collapse and lung become stiff and lung compliance falls to 25 per cent of normal.