UCB to Commercialize Biogen Idec Products in Asia

An agreement with Biogen Idec allowing UCB to market a number of the company’s multiple sclerosis and hemophilia drugs in the Asia/Pacific region will increase Biogen Idec’s commercial footprint in Asia while furthering UCB’s goals in neurology and immunology biologics in the region, the drugmakers say.

The agreement applies to Biogen Idec’s Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), Fampyra (prolonged-release fampridine tablets), Avonex (interferon beta-1a), Tysabri (natalizumab), Plegridy (PEGylated interferon beta) and daclizumab high-yield process MS products. It also applies to Eloctate (recombinant factor VIII Fc fusion protein) and Alprolix (recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein), investigational long-acting recombinant drugs for hemophilia A and B, respectively. UCB may now market these in Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan and Malaysia.

Because Chinese regulatory authorities require clinical trials with a large number of Chinese patients, UCB will have to implement a clinical development plan in China before filing for marketing authorization, said Biogen Idec spokesperson Kate Niazi-Sai. — Lena Freund

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