Bangalore-based biotechnology company Biocon has launched a new biologic that could treat patients with psoriasis.

A biologic is a preparation, such as a drug, a vaccine, or an anti-toxin, which is synthesized from living organisms or their products and used to diagnose, prevent or treat patients.

Called ALZUMAb, it can treat psoriasis, a skin disorder with better efficiency and a low infection rate and will retail at Rs 7,500 for a bottle, according to company officials.

Further, this biologic has a longer remission period, which helps a patient to reduce medication costs as they have to repeatedly buy this product due to the relapsing nature of the disease.

“This new line of treatment will usher in a paradigm shift in the management of psoriasis. We are proud that this will be the first instance of a breakthrough innovation from India with a potential to treat multiple autoimmune diseases,” said Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director.

In January, Biocon received marketing authorisation from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for its novel biologic ‘Itolizumab’ – anti-CD6 molecule.

With this launch, Biocon has one eye on the $8-billion psoriasis market which, according to analysts is estimated to hit that size by 2016.

With the pricing of ALZUMAb almost 50 per cent cheaper than other psoriasis drugs, Biocon hopes to gain more market share but did not put a number to it.

venkatesh.ganesh@thehindu.co.in

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