Lupin in process of developing pipeline of products to treat cancer, other diseases

Drug maker Lupin is in the process of developing a pipeline of products under its new drug discovery programme to treat various diseases like cancer and metabolic disorders, a top company official said. The company, which last month inked a partnership with global pharma company AbbVie for the development and commercialisation of its novel oncology drug to treat hematological cancers, is focussing on the first-to-market kind of opportunities with its new products.

"The Novel Drug Discovery and Development (NDDD) is focused and committed on developing a pipeline of highly differentiated and innovative new chemical entities in various therapeutic areas like oncology, immunology and metabolic disorders," Lupin President NDDD Raj Kamboj told PTI. When asked about company’s ambitions from the programme over the next two-three years, he said, "Lupin will focus NDDD activities to advance pipeline programs where there are first-to-market and/or best-in-class opportunities.

Emphasis will be stressed on designing compounds that are differentiated in their respective class. This, in turn, will create attractive partnering opportunities." Sharing details, Kamboj said the Mumbai-based company is currently working on developing various products, including two major ones to treat chronic kidney diseases and lung cancer. Lupin currently utilises its Pune-based research and development centre for NDDD programme. Last month, AbbVie licensed Lupin's MALT1 (Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation Protein1) inhibitor programme.

Through this partnership, AbbVie gains exclusive global rights to develop and commercialise MALT1 inhibitors. Under the terms of the agreement with AbbVie, Lupin is entitled for an upfront payment of USD 30 million. Upon successful completion of regulatory, development and commercial milestones, the company is eligible to receive total milestone payments of up to USD 947 million. Additionally, Lupin will be entitled to receive a double-digit royalty on the sales of the product and will retain commercial rights to the programme in India, the company added. "The deal with AbbVie is a tribute to the outstanding scientific and technical progress that NDDD has been able to achieve," Kamboj said.

(With inputs from agencies.)