Cipla and Kemwell Collaborate on Lung Disease Biosimilars

Two India-based companies said they have formed a partnership to develop biosimilars for respiratory disease. Their goal is to sell these biosimilars in global markets.

Cipla, based in Mumbai, and Kemwell Biopharma, of Bengaluru, will pair their complementary strengths in product development, clinical development, regulatory filings, manufacturing, and commercialization to develop the biosimilars pipeline, they said.

“This development reinforces our strength as leaders in respiratory therapy and is in line with our aspiration of global lung leadership,” Umag Vohra, managing director and CEO of Cipla, said in a statement.

Cipla is a lung disease specialist with products on the international markets for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, allergic rhinitis, and other conditions. The company also produces medicines across multiple other therapeutic categories, including diabetes, women’s health, and tuberculosis.

Besides India, the company has facilities in Africa and North America. The company’s plant in Durban, South Africa, was recently vandalized and looted during the political violence over the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma, but has since reopened.

Kemwell is a contract biologics development and manufacturing company. Kemwell boasts facilities designed in collaboration with German expertise and has partnered with Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, and Pfizer, according to its website. Kemwell has manufacturing plants in Sweden.

For companies in the developing world, it is important to reassure international clients and markets that facilities and products meet high standards.