Dr Reddy's launches Neulastim copy in India; doubles 4th-qtr profit

Hyderabad, India-based generic drugmaker Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (NYSE: RDY) has launched its Peg-grafeel, the firm’s brand of pegfilgrastim, which has been marketed in that country since 2007 by the local subsidiary of Swiss drug major Roche (SIX: ROG) as Neulastim.

Peg-grafeel, a pegylated long-lasting variant of filgrastim, has been approved in India to reduce the duration of neutropenia and the incidence of febrile neutropenia in patients treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy for malignancy (with the exception of chronic myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes). Pegfilgrastim is also sold by Intas, and Gennova/Emcure. Brands include Neupeg, Pegasta and Pegex.

Dr Reddy’s Peg-grafeel is priced at an MRP of 8,865 rupees ($197.92), which is some 25% of the originator brand in India, and 95% lower than the US price for pegfilgrastim, the company said. This breakthrough in pricing has been enabled by Dr Reddy’s vertically integrated global manufacturing network. Peg-grafeel, the firm noted. It is manufactured using Dr Reddy’s PEGtech brand of activated mPEGs which are synthesized at its facilities located in Mexico and the UK.