<div><em>The new priorities of the company now include increasing access of expensive medicines to Indian patients through its own development pipeline as well as collaborations with global companies, writes <strong>C H Unnikrishnan</strong></em><br><br><br>Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, India's second largest drug maker by sales, said on Thursday (6 August) that it has entered into a strategic collaboration with Amgen – one of the world’s top biotechnology companies – to market and distribute the later's three medicines in India. These three biological drugs are in the areas of oncology and cardiology.</div><div> </div><div>This marketing partnership is part of the Indian drug maker's recently initiated business model restructuring that involves marketing collaborations, priority focus on biologicals and other complex products along with patient access services in it key markets. </div><div> </div><div>Under the terms of the Amgen collaboration, Dr. Reddy’s Lab shall perform a full range of regulatory and commercial services to seek approval and launch of Amgen brands including Kyprolis (carfilzomib), BLINCYTO (blinatumomab) and Repatha (evolocumab) in India. It also leverages the capabilities of both companies such as Amgen’s innovative therapies in cancer and heart diseases and Dr. Reddy’s understanding of patient and physician needs in India, the company said.</div><div> </div><div>Dr Reddy's Lab's chairman Satish Reddy had in a interview with <em>BW|Businessworld</em> on Wednesday said that the new priorities of the company now includes increasing access of expensive medicines to Indian patients through its own development pipeline as well as collaborations with global companies. <br> </div><div>The Amgen drugs are among the new generation drugs used for the treatment of myeloma and other cancers are currently not accessible in the Indian market and are sold at very high prices in the developed markets. </div><div> </div><div> “We look forward to making products of innovative companies like Amgen accessible to Indian patients as addressing significant unmet needs of patients in oncology and cardiovascular are critical for India and, therefore, a priority for us," said Alok Sonig, executive vice president and head of India and global business development. </div><div> </div><div>“We are pleased to be joining forces with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, which has has significant experience serving oncology and cardiovascular patients in India and it also shares Amgen’s interest in delivering new treatment options to seriously ill patients," said Penny Wan, Amgen vice president and general manager, Japan Asia Pacific Region, in Thursday statement.</div>
