Amgen to localize production of flagship antitumor drug in Russia

US biotech major Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) has announced its plans to establish the production of its antitumor drug blinatumomab at the facilities of Russian Pharmstandard next year, according to the companies, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

To date, they have already reached an agreement for the establishment of a full cycle production of blinatumomab, which is used for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and is marketing by Amgen under the trade name Blincyto. In the third quarter of 2017, Blincyto generated global sales of $52 million, up from $29 million in the like 2016 quarter.

Under the terms of the agreement, Amgen will transfer production technologies to Pharmstandard, while the Russian company will promote the drug in the local market.