Biotechnology major Biocon today said it is looking for partners to develop and market its novel biologic drug Itolizumab, branded as ‘Alzumab’, to be used for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis worldwide.

“Biocon is seeking partnership for developing and commercialisation of Itolizumab for global markets to offer this unique ‘first in class’ product with a unique mechanism of action, to patients worldwide,” Biocon Chairman and Managing Director Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw told PTI in an email interview.

The company had received marketing authorisation for Itolizumab from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) in January, 2013, she added.

When asked if Biocon has identified any potential partners and about the financial contours of the partnership, Mazumdar-Shaw said: “It is too early to answer this. Currently we are preparing to launch the product in India. Global development will begin once we find a suitable partner.”

Psoriasis is an inflammatory auto-immune skin disease that follows a typical relapsing and remitting course with the disease affecting 2-3 per cent of the world’s population.

The global market for the psoriasis treatments is expected to reach $8 billion by 2016, Biocon said.

When asked if the firm is also looking at approval of Alzumab for other auto-immune conditions, Mazumdar-Shaw said: “For now we have completed clinical studies for Psoriasis only. We plan to take the molecule into clinical development for other diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and other auto immune conditions.”

This is the company’s second novel biologic developed in India, BioMab EGFR, an anti-cancer monoclonal antibody, being the first.

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