Pharmaceutical company Cipla Ltd announced on Thursday that it has entered into a strategic partnership with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Invagen Pharmaceuticals Inc. This partnership aims to license and supply a biosimilar to the anti-cancer drug Keytruda in the United States.
The product, named QL2107, is a biosimilar to pembrolizumab (Keytruda). The goal of this collaboration, as stated by Cipla in regulatory documentation, is to increase the accessibility of advanced cancer treatments for patients while simultaneously reducing therapy costs.
Under the terms of the agreement, Qilu will be responsible for the development, regulatory registration of the product, and its supply. In turn, Cipla will leverage its commercial presence to promote the asset in the US market.
Achin Gupta, Managing Director and Global CEO of Cipla, noted that this partnership demonstrates the company's confidence in the long-term potential of biosimilars and supports its strategy of building a strong oncology-focused portfolio.
Hanchan Zhang, General Manager of Qilu Pharmaceutical, stated that they are pleased to begin cooperation with Cipla regarding QL2107. He added that by combining Qilu's research and manufacturing capabilities with Cipla's commercial experience in the US, they aim to provide high-quality and affordable pembrolizumab biosimilar to patients in the US.
Founded in 1935, Cipla is a global pharmaceutical corporation specializing in complex generics and expanding its portfolio in respiratory diseases, oncology, and antiretroviral drugs. Established in 1958, Qilu Pharmaceutical is a leading vertically integrated Chinese firm with an extensive portfolio that includes over 50 biosimilars and more than 130 innovative medicines.