Cipla Limited finally looks set to debut its much-awaited generic (g) Advair (salmeterol/fluticasone) in the US, though plans for another key product, gAbraxane (protein-bound paclitaxel) appear pushed back by about six months or so.
At the earnings call for the third quarter of fiscal 2023, Cipla’s global CEO and managing director Umang Vohra said that the target action date for generic Advair is “hopefully” in the first week of April and the firm
mRNA , Stem Cell Therapy, CAR-T Interest
Cipla continues to shape its innovation journey in newer areas alongside its aspirations in lung leadership and CEO Vohra shared some insights on which way things may be heading.(Also see "How Cipla Is Shaping Lung Leadership Beyond Asthma, AMR Plans" - Scrip, 14 June, 2021.)
The Mumbai-based firm recently inked a deal, via its wholly owned UK subsidiary, Cipla (EU) Limited, to acquire about 10.35% of the registered share capital of biotech, Ethris GmbH.(Also see "Cipla Moves Into mRNA Arena With Stake In German Biotech Ethris" - Scrip, 3 January, 2023.)
Explaining the general strategic intent, Vohra told Scrip that the company is keen to be among those who pioneer the ability of taking mRNA through the inhaled route and noted that Ethris is a “great” company that's actually done a lot of work in that.
He, though, acknowledged that “science investments” come with their own risks essentially that “some of the products that we work in science work, some don’t".
"But we have good relationship/partnership with Ethris, where some of the pipeline products, we have the responsibility of bringing them into India," the CEO said.
He did not specifically clarify whether the transaction covered Ethris’s vaccine pipeline as well.(Also see "Tracing Cipla’s Interest In Vaccines, Potential For Tie-Up With Moderna" - Scrip, 28 May, 2021.)
“We are also trying to create an mRNA ecosystem for products that can be made in India,” Vohra said, signaling a wider own-manufacturing interest for therapeutics based on the star new modality.
Cipla is also eying investments, over the medium to long term, in more platforms and CAR-T is an area of interest the CEO indicated.(Also see "Respiratory Plus: Cipla Shapes Future In New Age Platforms, Devices, Diagnostics" - Scrip, 18 January, 2022.)(Also see "Podcast: It’s Coming Home: ImmunoACT Advances Plans For Cut-Price CAR-T In India" - Scrip, 30 June, 2022.)(Also see "What’s Next At Dr Reddy’s: Biologics CDMO, Cell And Gene Therapy Push" - Scrip, 27 June, 2022.)
“We are also interested in diagnostics as an area …so this will be more platform technology, more therapy technology, more biology technology
