China-based Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceuticals (SHA: 600867) announced a licensing agreement with compatriot firm Kexing Pharmaceutical (SHA: 688136), granting the latter exclusive commercialization rights to its biosimilar version of Novo Nordisk’s Victoza (liraglutide) in 17 emerging markets (EMs).
Victoza: Background and Approval
Victoza, a human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue, was first approved in China in 2011 to control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. Tonghua Dongbao’s version, a 3ml: 18mg (pre-filled injection pen) subcutaneous injection, was accepted for marketing review in June 2022 in the country, where Huadong Medicine’s was the first filed for marketing.
Deal Territory and Market Context
The deal territory covers 17 countries in Latin America, the Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Those markets reportedly have an average diabetes prevalence rate of 13.8%, with 12 of those markets ahead of global trends in prevalence terms.-Fineline Info & Tech
