BSV receives exclusive right to market & distribute NexoBrid in India

New Delhi: Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited (BSV) a leading biopharmaceutical company in India has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with MediWound, a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on next generation biotherapeutic solutions for tissue repair and regeneration, for exclusive marketing and distribution of NexoBrid in India.

NexoBrid, a new paradigm in treatment of severe burns, is a concentrate of proteolytic enzymes enriched in bromelain, and an easy to use, topically applied product that removes eschar in four hours without harming the surrounding healthy tissues.

Speaking on this, Vishwanath Swarup, COO- Domestic Operations, BSV, said “Burn Treatment and Management continues to remain a public health challenge in India. According to the National health Portal of India, as many as 70 lakh burn injuries are reported with mortality rate as high as 1.4 lakh per year, with almost 91,000 of these being women. As a leading player in the women’s health segment, it is our endeavour to widen access to NexoBrid in India in order to save and improve lives of several women in the country.”

He continued, “With proven scientific evidence of alleviating the known risks associated with eschar, such as infection, eventual sepsis, wound deterioration and consequential scarring, NexoBrid allows physicians to reach an informed decision on further treatment at an earlier stage, thereby ensuring safer and more effective treatment of burns, especially for our security forces.”

“We are very pleased to sign a distribution agreement,” said Ofer Gonen, Chief Executive Officer of MediWound. “NexoBrid is now approved and selling in 42 countries worldwide, and we see steady growth in the markets where it is available. Approval in India represents a significant opportunity for us.  With a high incidence of burns in India, we believe that NexoBrid can offer a safer treatment towards burn management.   We also look forward to our PDUFA date of January 1, 2023 and the potential NexoBrid launch in the U.S. during the second half of 2023 with our commercial partner, Vericel.”

According to Dr Sunil Keswani, Director, National Burn Centre, Airoli, Mumbai “In 2019, more than 23 000 fire-related deaths were estimated in India, which is about 20% of the global mortality burden. Burn management remains an area where much work could be done in two broad areas – introducing newer and safer treatments as well as addressing the financial and insurance coverage for treatments. While the National Program for Burn Prevention & Management of Burn Injuries aims at reducing incidence, mortality, morbidity, and disability due to burn injuries, creation of a Burn Data Registry at a national level to collect, compile and analyse data related to burn injuries, will go a long way in broadening the scope of the national programme to strengthen burn care in the public sector and to ensure better rehabilitation of burn survivors.”

Prof. Dr. V K Tiwari, Plastic Surgeon Ex-Director, and M.S., PGIMER and R M L hospital and Ex-HOD, Department of Burns & Plastic Surgery, Dr R M L Hospital, New Delhi said, “Burn services in India are delivered through specialised tertiary care burn centres. However, the distribution of these centres and services available remain a big gap in addressing this serious challenge.  While we work towards building awareness on burn management, there are gaps of healthcare infrastructure including availability of novel burn treatments need to be prioritized.”