Sun Pharma launches Ilumya in Japan and favipiravir in India

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Sun Pharma launches Ilumya in Japan and favipiravir in India

Generics/News | Posted 16/10/2020 0 Post your comment

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc (Sun Pharma) announced that their innovative biopharmaceutical product, Ilumya (tildrakizumab), will be launched in Japan. As a producer of generics, rather than biologicals, this is an important milestone for the company. This launch joins Sun Pharma’s August 2020 launch of favipiravir for treatment of COVID-19 patients at a very economic price in India.

Ilumya is a humanized lgG1/k monoclonal antibody designed to selectively bind to the p19 subunit of IL-23 and inhibit its interaction with the IL-23 receptor, leading to inhibition of the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

Ilumya can now be used in Japan to treat patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who have an inadequate response to conventional therapies. Its use leads to the inhibition of the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Sun Pharma’s product will be available as a subcutaneous injection 100 mg syringe.

In early August, Sun Pharma launched favipiravir in India, under the name FluGuard. At the price of 35 rupees (47 cents) per 200 mg tablet, this makes it the cheapest version available. Originally developed by Japan’s Fujifilm Holdings Corp as Avigan, favipiravir received emergency approval in India in June 2020 as it is hoped the product can help in the treatment of mild to moderate cases of COVID-19. However, clinical studies are currently disappointing.

Sun Pharma is one of India’s largest pharmaceutical companies. It has launched products globally including in the US [1, 2] and has acquired companies from Russia [3] and Japan [2].

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References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Ulcerative colitis and diabetes generics launched in US [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Oct 16]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Generics/News/Ulcerative-colitis-and-diabetes-generics-launched-in-US
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Sun Pharma gets FDA-approval for ganirelix acetate and plans to acquire Japan’s Pola Pharma [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Oct 16]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Generics/News/Sun-Pharma-gets-FDA-approval-for-ganirelix-acetate-and-plans-to-acquire-Japan-s-Pola-Pharma
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Sun Pharma to acquire Russia’s Biosintez [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Oct 16].
Available from: www.gabionline.net/Pharma-News/Sun-Pharma-to-acquire-Russia-s-Biosintez

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