Vifor Pharma gains rights to Pfizer's Retacrit in the US dialysis market

24 May 2016

Vifor Pharma, a company of the Swiss Galenica group (SIX: GALN), has further expanded its erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) portfolio with the licensing of commercialization rights in the US dialysis market to Pfizer's (NYSE: PFE) Retacrit, a proposed biosimilar epoetin, in the field of nephrology.

Retacrit is a biosimilar to biotech major Amgen's (Nasdaq: AMGN) Epogen (epoetin alfa) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) subsidiary Janssen's Procrit (epoetin alfa). Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Pfizer subsidiary Hospira submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the US Food and Drug Administration for Retacrit in December 2014. Retacrit is under review for the treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), renal failure as well as chemotherapy-induced anaemia. With access to Retacrit, once approved, Vifor Pharma will be positioned to also offer a short-acting ESA to the US dialysis market.

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