Cipla sales and marketing update
Cipla launched Etacept etanercept in India to treat rheumatic disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile idiopathic RA and psoriatic arthritis. The product is a biosimilar version of autoimmune drug Enbrel etanercept, a recombinant p75 tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor linked to the Fc portion of human IgG1 (TNFr:Fc) from Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE, New York, N.Y.) and Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN, Thousand Oaks, Calif.). Cipla said Etacept is the first biosimilar to be launched in India.
Cipla said subcutaneous Etacept is available at about a 30% discount to Enbrel. The company said the recommended dose for adults is twice-weekly at 25 mg. The product is manufactured by Shanghai CP Guojian Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China), which also markets the product as Yisaipu to treat RA in China. Cipla and Shanghai CP Guojian could not be reached for details. Pfizer declined to disclose Enbrel's price in India. ...