News Feature | September 11, 2014

Cipla Links With S&D Pharma For Fullhale Launch In EU

By Estel Grace Masangkay

Cipla, an India-based generic pharma firm, announced its collaboration with U.K.-based S&D Pharma for the marketing of Cipla’s products in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Under the terms of the partnership, S&D Pharma will be responsible for the distribution of all Cipla’s products, including generics. Cipla will focus on its core therapy area of respiratory products in both countries through its own marketing team.

The partners will specifically focus on the commercialization of the respiratory product Salmeterol-Fluticasone fixed combination for asthma. Once Cipla and S&D Pharma have secured regulatory approval, Salmeterol-Fluticasone will be launched in both countries under the brand name Fullhale. Cipla has already commercialized the product in Croatia under the brand Duohal. The company also penetrated the German and Swedish market earlier this month where it distributed the product under the brand names Serroflo and Salmeterol/Fluticasone Cipla respectively. An estimated 30 million patients under the age of 45 are affected by asthma in Europe.

Mr. Frank Pieters, Head of Cipla Europe, said, “We are excited to partner with S&D Pharma and believe that this collaboration will enable us to drive access in the Czech Republic and Slovakia across therapy areas in the coming years.”

Mr. Daniel Straus, CEO of S&D Pharma, said that the company is pleased to expand its collaboration with Cipla. He said that the company looks forward to helping develop Cipla’s brand and products in the European market. “Through this collaboration we have secured a competitive and varied product pipeline for the future and very much look forward to contributing to the future success of Cipla's respiratory range,” said Strauss.

This July Cipla also entered into a commercial collaboration with BioQuiddity for the distribution of the latter’s OneDose ReadyfusOR for post-surgical pain management. Cipla will launch the product under a Cipla brand name in the EU as well as in other European countries.