Mankind Pharma inks exclusive distribution pact with AstraZeneca for anti-asthma drug Symbicort

12 Mar 2024 , 11:14 AM

AstraZeneca Pharma India, the local branch of British-Swedish pharmaceutical AstraZeneca, announced on Monday that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with Mankind Pharma to supply the former’s anti-asthma inhaled corticosteroid medicine Symbicort in India.

AstraZeneca will retain the intellectual property rights for Symbicort, a combination of budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate. This includes maintaining the position as the marketing authorization holder (MAH) and holding the import license.

Symbicort is one of AstraZeneca’s best-selling medications internationally, with sales of around $2.4 billion in 2023.

Sanjeev Panchal, the Country President and Managing Director of AstraZeneca India, expressed that the collaboration with Mankind Pharma provides a chance to expedite accessibility and unlock the full potential of both our asthma medication and the turbuhaler. The turbuhaler, a straightforward device, is adept at consistently delivering a higher proportion of respirable particles compared to alternative devices.

Mankind Pharma is the fourth biggest firm in the domestic branded formulation category, with an extensive distribution network encompassing almost 16,000 field personnel and more than 13,000 stockists across India.

Atish Majumdar, Senior President of Sales and Marketing at Mankind Pharma, stated that the dual mechanism of action and user-friendly design of Symbicort, housed in a single inhaler, has the potential to significantly assist patients in handling these conditions and enhancing their quality of life. The extensive outreach efforts of our field forces aim to enhance accessibility in both urban and rural markets.

India accounts for 13% of the worldwide asthma burden and a disproportionate 43% of global asthma mortality.

AstraZeneca is a well-known pharmaceutical company in respiratory care, with an emphasis on inhalation and biologics.

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