Biocon and Equillium Inc. to commercialise Itolizumab in Australia and New Zealand

Biocon Limited and Equillium Inc. have expanded their collaboration and license agreement for Itolizumab to grant Equillium exclusive rights for developing and commercializing in Australia and New Zealand.

Equillium had originally secured exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Biocon’s novel biologic, Itolizumab, for the U.S. and Canada markets, in May 2017.

Itolizumab is first-in-class humanised anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody, which Biocon developed and launched in India under the brand name ALZUMA to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in 2013. In 2017, Biocon partnered with Equillium for this promising asset to develop it for a wide-range of autoimmune disorders.

In addition to the EQUIP trial in uncontrolled asthma, Equillium is conducting Phase 1b proof-of-concept clinical trials of Itolizumab for the treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and lupus nephritis. The USFDA granted Itolizumab Fast Track designation for the treatment of aGVHD and lupus nephritis, as well as Orphan Drug designations for both the prevention and treatment of aGVHD.

Equillium Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company leveraging deep understanding of immunobiology to develop products to treat severe autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

On Friday, the stock of Biocon opened at Rs 294.55 which had previously closed at Rs 293. In the last two and half months, the stock has surged by ~35 per cent.