Alembic enters licensing agreement with UCB

Mumbai, May 23 (UNI) Vadodara-based Alembic has entered into a licensing agreement for its Novel Drug Delivery Platform for Keppra XR (Levetiracetam Extended Release Tables) with Brussels-based UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company.

Company CMD Chirayu Amin told mediapersons here that under the terms of the agreement, Alembic would receive USD 11 million and royalty on future worldwide net sales of Keppra XR, subject to necessary legal and regulatory approvals.

Phase III clinical trials on Keppra XR are ongoing and results are expected in the fourth quarter of 2007. Keppra is UCB's leading anti-epileptic drug which realised sales of 761 million euros (USD one billion) in 2006. The development of Levetiracetam XR marks a milestone for Alembic's Novel Drug Delivery System (NDDS) program.

Company Business Development officer Pranav Amin told UNI that active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are for captive consumption as well as for sale in domestic and international markets. Alembic is expecting revenue streams through both sale of APIs and supply chain partnership with leadng generic companies for formulations from its facility at Panelav, Vadodara.

The company has already entered into long-term supply agreements with generic companies in US and Europe and supply will start from year 2007-08.

Alembic is the market leader in Macrolides segment of anti-infective drugs in India. Zero (sugar free), Glycodin and Althrocin are some of the leading brands of the company. Alembic entered the lifestyle therapeutic sement with the acquisition of Dabur's Non Oncology Business in April 2007.

The company aims to increase its market footprint in other foreign markets like Brazil, Russia, Australia and South Africa.

UNI