REG - Beximco Pharmaceut - MPP sub-license for Pfizer’s COVID-19 treatment

Beximco PharmaceuticalsAnnouncement

17/03/2022 14:45

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RNS Number : 1335F  Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd  17 March 2022

 

17 March, 2022

 

 

 

BEXIMCO PHARMACEUTICALS LTD.

 

Beximco Pharma granted sub-license to produce a generic version of Pfizer's
oral treatment for COVID-19 by Medicines Patent Pool

 

Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited ("Beximco Pharma", "BPL" or "the Company"),
the fast-growing manufacturer of generic pharmaceutical products and active
pharmaceutical ingredients, announces that the United Nations-backed Medicines
Patent Pool (MPP) has granted the Company a sub-license to produce a generic
version of Pfizer's breakthrough COVID-19 oral treatment, which is a
combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. This is further to the sub-license
granted to the Company by MPP to produce MSD and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics'
COVID-19 drug, molnupiravir, as announced on 20 January 2022.

 

Nirmatrelvir is a novel main protease inhibitor that specifically blocks the
activity of the enzyme needed for SARS-CoV2 viral replication. Ritonavir is a
strong cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 inhibitor and pharmacokinetic boosting agent
to increase nirmatrelvir concentrations to the target therapeutic range. The
Pfizer oral treatment, under the brand name PAXLOVID™, was granted Emergency
Use Authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2021,
for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric
patients (12 years of age and older), who are at high risk for progression to
severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.

 

The sub-license is granted under a voluntary licensing agreement between
Pfizer and MPP to facilitate broader global access of this antiviral
combination.

 

Under the agreement, Beximco Pharma will manufacture this drug in Bangladesh
following successful technology transfer and manufacturing regulatory
approvals.

 

Managing Director of Beximco Pharma, Nazmul Hassan MP, commented:

"We are delighted that MPP has granted Beximco Pharma a sub-license to produce
a generic version of this breakthrough COVID-19 treatment originally developed
by Pfizer, which builds on the license granted to the Company in January 2022
for the production of molnupiravir. This further collaboration with MPP is
testament to our commitment to providing a broad selection of affordable
treatments to combat COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries, as well as
our strong reputation as a producer of high-quality generic medicines."

 

 

For further information please visit www.beximcopharma.com
(http://www.beximcopharma.com) or enquire to:

 

Beximco Pharma

Nazmul Hassan MP, Managing Director

Tel: +880 2 58611001, ext. 20080

S M Rabbur Reza, Chief Operating Officer

Tel: +880 2 58611001, ext. 20111

Mohammad Ali Nawaz, Chief Financial Officer

Tel: +880 2 58611001, ext. 20030

SPARK Advisory Partners Limited (Nominated Adviser)

Mark Brady / Andrew Emmott

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3368 3551 / 3555

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Broker)

Vadim Alexandre / Abigail Wayne

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0470

FTI Consulting

Simon Conway / Victoria Foster Mitchell

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3727 1000

Notes to Editors

About Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited

Beximco Pharma is a leading manufacturer and exporter of medicines based in
Bangladesh. Since its inception in 1976, the Company remains committed to
health and wellbeing of people across all the continents by providing access
to contemporary medicines. Company's broad portfolio of generics encompasses
diverse delivery systems such as tablets, capsules, liquids, semi-solids,
intravenous fluids, metered dose inhalers, dry powder inhalers, sterile
ophthalmic drops, insulins, prefilled syringes, injectables, nebuliser
solutions, oral soluble films etc. The Company also undertakes contract
manufacturing for multinational and leading global generic pharmaceutical
companies.

Beximco Pharma′s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities are certified by
global regulatory authorities of USA, Europe, Australia, Canada, GCC and Latin
America, among others and it has a geographic footprint in more than 50
countries. More than 5,500 employees are driving the company towards achieving
its aspiration to be among the most admired companies in the world.

 

About The Medicines Patent Pool

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a United Nations-backed public health
organisation working to increase access to, and facilitate the development of,
life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries. Through its
innovative business model, MPP partners with civil society, governments,
international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders,
to prioritise and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to
encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations.

 

To date, MPP has signed agreements with 13 patent holders for thirteen HIV
antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting
antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, two long-acting technologies, two
experimental oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and a COVID-19 serological
antibody diagnostic test.

 

MPP was founded by Unitaid, which continues to be MPP's main funder. MPP's
work on access to essential medicines is also funded by the Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation (SDC). MPP's activities in COVID-19 are undertaken
with the financial support of the Japanese Government, the French Ministry for
Europe and Foreign Affairs, and SDC.

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