Vifor Pharma and Roche extend licensing deal for Mircera

Swiss firms Roche and Vifor Pharma have extended an agreement related to the marketing of Mircera (methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta) in the USA.

The deal provides Vifor with: “Access to additional volume for Mircera for the US market in order to optimally meet the needs of new and existing partners.”

The companies signed a commercialization deal in 2015 for the drug, which is approved in the USA and Europe for the treatment of anaemia in certain chronic kidney disease patients.

Mircera is a long-acting erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) which helps the body make more red blood cells, reducing the need for red blood cell transfusion.

The therapy has been rolled out to Fresenius Kidney Care clinics throughout the USA.