Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories launches cancer treatment drug in the UK
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has launched Versavo (bevacizumab) in the UK market, it said in an exchange filing. This is the first biosimilar product of Dr. Reddy’s to be approved and launched in the UK market.
Versavo is indicated for the treatment of several types of cancers, including metastatic colorectal cancer, advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, recurrent glioblastoma, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, advanced cervical cancer, ovarian cancer and metastatic breast cancer.
Dr. Reddy’s had previously launched Versavo in India in 2019 and other countries like Thailand, Ukraine, Nepal, and Jamaica. The product was launched under the brand name Persivia in Colombia.
“The launch of Versavo in a highly regulated market underscores our capability for global clinical development of high-quality biosimilar products,” said Jayanth Sridhar, the Global Head of Biologics at Dr. Reddy’s.
“This launch reinforces our commitment to bring more biosimilar and other critical biological products to meet the unmet needs of patients, and strengthens our focus on oncology,” he added.
Bevacizumab, of which Versavo is a biosimilar, is the first antiangiogenic therapy proven to slow metastatic disease progression in patients with cancer.
On March 1, Dr. Reddy’s was named as a defendant in a complaint in a New Jersey district court over gRevlimid.
The complaint was filed by Walgreen Co., Kroger Specialty Pharmacy Inc., and CVS Pharmacy Inc., asserting claims under the Federal Antitrust Law.
These companies have alleged that Dr. Reddy’s, acting in connection with Celgene Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Natco Pharma Ltd., and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., improperly restrained competition and maintained a shared monopoly in the sale of brand and generic Revlimid through their settlements of patent litigations.
Shares of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories are currently trading 2.2% lower at ₹6,201.60. The stock has risen nearly 40% over the last 12 months.
