Dr Reddy's, DNDi join hands to develop new drugs

Hyderabad: Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd and Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services Limited, a contract research, development and manufacturing services organisation and fully owned stepdown subsidiary of Dr Reddy's announce a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), a not-for-profit research and development organisation that develops new therapeutic solutions for neglected diseases, and the DNDi India Foundation.

The parties will explore a potential collaboration to develop and market novel and improved drugs for the treatment of identified Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) of national and global importance. The parties will also seek to work towards ensuring access of those drugs at affordable prices to patients in need particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) that are disproportionately affected by these NTDs. This potential partnership will aim to bring DNDi's expertise in NTDs together with the scientific, technical and commercial capabilities of APSL and Dr Reddy's – access to a pipeline of new chemical entities, pre-clinical studies, network and advocacy on these NTDs by DNDi; phase-wise clinical studies, research and development, commercial manufacturing of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and the finished products by APSL; distribution and commercialisation of the drugs by Dr. Reddy's.

NTDs are a diverse group of 20 conditions that are mainly prevalent in tropical areas. Globally, 1.7 billion people are affected by NTDs such as mycetoma, sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis (kala azar), Chagas disease, and river blindness. Across continents, NTDs cause intense suffering, disability and often death, and impoverish individuals, families, and communities.

Deepak Sapra, CEO, API and Services, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., said: "In keeping with our purpose of Good Health Can't Wait, we have always stood for access to affordable and innovative drugs. We are grateful for this opportunity to explore a collaboration with DNDi, a globally renowned champion of the cause of neglected diseases with strong networks and know-how in this segment. We will look to leverage the strengths and capabilities of all the parties to explore new drugs with the intention of making them available in India and in countries with high disease burden in these NTDs".