Dr Reddy's inks licencing pact with Takeda to commercialise novel antacid drug Vonoprazan in India

HYDERABAD: Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd has entered into a non-exclusive patent licensing pact with Japan’s Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) to commercialise the latter’s novel antacid drug Vonoprazan in the Indian market.

Dr Reddy’s will be marketing Takeda’s Vonoprazan tablets under its own trademark VONO in two strengths, 10mg and 20mg, the Hyderabad-based company said in a regulatory filing.

Dr Reddy’s CEO for branded markets MV Ramana said the non-exclusive patent licencing agreement is part of the company’s efforts to bring innovating medicines to patients in India through strategic collaborations.

Vonoprazan is a first-in-class potassium competitive acid blocker (PCAB) that works by suppressing the secretion of gastric acid by inhibiting the proton pump potassium exchange.

Compared to the traditional acid suppressing molecules like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), Vonoprazan offers complete proton pump inhibition with the first dose, longer duration of action resulting in effective control of nocturnal acid breakthrough and meal independent dosing, the company said.

The oral drug is used to treat reflux esophagitis and other acid peptic disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease (PUD) that are very common in India.

The company said Vonoprazan has been proven to be effective and approved for the treatment of reflux esophagitis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, prevention of reoccurrence of gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer during low-dose aspirin administration or NSAIDs administration.

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