BRIEF—Cipla and Stempeutics Research ink licensing deal

Indian pharmaceutical company Cipla and biotech firm Stempeutics Research have agreed a licensing deal related to stem cell therapy product Stempeucel, a treatment for critical limb ischemia.

Under the terms of the deal, Cipla will gain exclusive marketing rights for five years in India in this indication. Stempeutics will produce and supply the product, which is expected to be available in India from 2020. A Phase III trial in the country is due to start this year.

Stempeutics chief executive BN Manohar said: "Although alternate treatments exist for CLI-PAD, only 50% of patients can be managed with contemporary vascular techniques, while satisfactory clinical outcomes are evident in about 25% of the patients.”