Cipla launches Etacept - a biosimilar drug to treat rheumatoid

On Wednesday, drug giants Cipla announced it had launched a biosimilar drug of Etanercept under the brand name Etacept which will be used to treat rheumatic disorders in India. 'Formed through a partnership alliance, Etacept is manufactured by a China-based Shanghai CP Guojian Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, which will be marketed by Cipla in India,' the company said in a statement.

According to Wikipedia, biosimilar (AKA follow-on biologics) are biologic medical products whose active drug substance is made of a living organism or derived from a living organism by means of recombinant DNA or controlled gene expression methods.

This move signals Cipla's entry into the biologic segment. It's believed it will give patients suffering from rheumatic disorders medicines at a lower cost. Cipla Medical Director Jaideep Gogtay said, 'We believe that introducing Etacept at a lower cost (30 percent lesser as compared to the innovator) will enable access of this drug to a greater number of patients in India.' Biosimilar is a biological medicine that is similar to another biological medicine that has already been authorised for use. Biologics like Etanercept play a significant role in controlling the disease and can make a difference in the lives of these patients, it added. 'Etacept (Etanercept) is approved in the management of rheumatic disorders like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Juvenile Idiopathic Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis,' Cipla said.

The drug will be available for Rs 6150 and the dose for adults is 25mg twice weekly through under the skin injection. Cipla has over 34 manufacturing facilities across India, and manufactures over 2,000 products in 65 therapeutic categories.

What are rheumatic disorders?

Rheumatic disorders are chronic inflammatory disorders affecting the joints and are characterised by redness, pain, swelling even loss of function in several joints. It can also lead to joint damage and deformities.