Dr Reddy’s & Sanofi Healthcare expand partnership to launch Beyfortus, a novel drug for preventing RSV in India

New Delhi: On the occasion of World Immunization Week, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories has expanded its strategic partnership with Sanofi Healthcare India to introduce a novel drug, Beyfortus^® (nirsevimab), in India.

Beyfortus^® contains the monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab, in a prefilled injection used for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in newborns and infants born during or entering their first RSV season. It is also administered in children up to 24 months of age, who remain vulnerable to severe RSV disease through their second RSV season.

Under the arrangement, Dr. Reddy’s will have exclusive rights from Sanofi to promote and distribute Beyfortus^® (nirsevimab) in India. This announcement follows Dr. Reddy’s successful exclusive distribution partnership with Sanofi for their portfolio of vaccines in India last year. Dr. Reddy’s is expected to launch Beyfortus^® in India in the second quarter of the current fiscal year.

RSV is a highly contagious virus that can lead to serious respiratory illness for infants. Two out of three infants are infected with RSV during their first year of life and almost all children are infected by their second birthday. In addition to being the most common cause of LRTD such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants, RSV is also a leading cause of hospitalization in infants worldwide, with most hospitalizations occurring in healthy infants born at term. In 2019, there were approximately 33 million cases of acute lower respiratory infections globally, leading to more than 3 million hospitalizations, and it was estimated that there were 26,300 in-hospital deaths of children younger than 5 years.

Nitya Padmanabhan, Head of Sanofi Vaccines (India) said, “Bringing Beyfortus^® to India is a pivotal step in our mission to protect every child from immunization preventable diseases like RSV. In India, where the disease burden is significant and early protection is critical, this collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s enables us to reach parents and healthcare providers with an innovative solution. Together, we are advancing equitable access to immunization and improving preventive care for numerous children in India.”

M.V. Ramana, Chief Executive Officer, Branded Markets (India and Emerging Markets), Dr. Reddy’s, said, “We are happy to extend our partnership with Sanofi in India – this time for a novel drug to address the RSV burden among newborns and infants in India. This partnership highlights our continued efforts to become the ‘partner of choice’ in bringing novel, innovative and trusted drugs to patients. Beyfortus® enables the access of healthcare professionals and parents to an improved drug in the prevention of RSV. Additionally, the launch of Beyfortus® will help us strengthen our immunization portfolio in India.”

Beyfortus^® has been approved for use in the European Union, the U.S., China, Japan, and many other countries around the world. In India, Beyfortus^® received its marketing authorization approval in June last year from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).