Petrovax Pharm and the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology have signed their cooperation agreement. As the biopharmaceutical company’s press service told GxP News, the agreement entails the localization of production for Areima, the original drug against nasopharyngeal and esophageal cancer with the active ingredient camrelizumab planned for 2025.
At a meeting with reporters in early March, Mikhail Tsyferov, president of Petrovax Pharm, said that the company had spent about 1.5 billion rubles on a technology transfer project for the antitumor drug camrelizumab, including for a license to the owner of the molecule, the Chinese company Jiangsu Hengrui. Camrelizumab is a PD-1 protein inhibitor, akin to pembrolizumab and nivolumab, and is recommended by Russian oncologists for inclusion in clinical guidelines for treating nasopharyngeal and esophageal cancer. Further clinical trials may expand the scope of its application. This year Petrovax plans to apply for inclusion of camrelizumab in the list of VED.
Tsyferov expects that the consumption of immuno-oncology drugs will increase, including due to lower prices. He emphasized that the cost of this drug will be competitive compared to similar agents such as pembrolizumab. In addition to focusing on lowering drug prices, Petrovax is targeting its efforts toward healthcare professionals, aiming to provide information and invite collaboration while conducting early access programs.
The Gamaleya Center and Petrovax Pharm have signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The cooperation aims to advance the development and production of innovative medicines to combat cancer, orphan, and infectious diseases, with a specific emphasis on API technology transfer projects.
In the photo: Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Aleksandr Ginzburg and Mikhail Tsyferov, President of Petrovax Pharm.
In 2024, Petrovax, in partnership with the Gamaleya Center, launched the production of the substance agalsidase beta for the treatment of Fabry’s disease. Russian patients are already receiving Fabagal. This is Russia’s first successful experience in transferring the production of a substance from an orphan drug cell line.
The company previously reported that the creation and transfer of technology for the production of innovative medicines in Russia starting from the API is one of the most significant tasks of the Healthcare Development Strategy, which contributes to ensuring the country’s drug sovereignty.
Partnership of Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology and the pharmaceutical company will contribute to the development of Russian science, as well as increase the availability of new innovative solutions produced locally from the substance stage for Russian patients.
«Innovative biopharmaceutical solutions can dramatically change the life of mankind. Today, we strive to make advanced technologies available to Russian patients. This can significantly increase life expectancy and quality of life across a range of diseases, including cancer and orphan diseases. Our cooperation with the scientific and medical community is intended to accelerate the development of breakthrough treatments and their implementation in clinical practice», — Tsyferov remarked.
