Glenmark and Lotus partner on allergic rhinitis spray
The mission to treat people who suffer from allergic rhinitis has been given a boost as two pharma companies join forces.
The Swiss subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Lotus International have signed a licensing agreement whereby Glenmark will handle the manufacture and supply of Ryaltris and Lotus will take charge of commercialising the drug, subject to approval.
Ryaltris, which was developed by Glenmark, is a novel, fixed-dose combination nasal spray of an anti-histamine (olopatadine hydrochloride) and a steroid (mometasone furoate). Each unit of the nasal spray contains 665mcg of olopatadine hydrochloride, a histamine-1(H1)-receptor inhibitor, and 25mcg of mometasone furoate.
It is indicated for the treatment of symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis in adults and those aged 12 and over.
According to Allergy UK, allergic rhinitis affects 10%-15% of children and 26% of adults in the UK. It can significantly affect quality of life, work and school performance and attendance, and is a risk factor for the development of asthma, states the charity.
Robert Crockart, chief commercial officer, Glenmark, said: “We are excited to partner with Lotus for Ryaltris as it is a strong and reputed player in the region and is aligned with Glenmark’s objective to provide quality novel products to fulfil unmet needs of patients
with allergic rhinitis. This partnership will provide patients access to a highly effective and proven treatment for allergic rhinitis in these key South-East Asian markets.”
Lotus CEO, Petar Vazharov, said the partnership would ensure that the novel spray drug is accessible to patients in South East Asia.
“This is also the first brand product to be included in our respiratory portfolio with strong clinical data and IP protection,” he added. “The partnership not only strengthens the competitiveness of our overall product portfolio but also accelerates our expansion in key South-East Asian countries.”
Ryaltris was first launched in Australia through Glenmark’s partner Seqirus, and it is said to be performing well. The drug has also been approved and is marketed in the Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan. In the US, Ryaltris has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and patients aged 12-plus. It will be marketed and distributed in the US through Glenmark’s partner, Hikma Specialty.
