Hikma, Celltrion Healthcare sign exclusive licensing agreement for MENA region

AMMAN — Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (Hikma), the multinational pharmaceutical company, on Tuesday announced a new exclusive licensing agreement with Celltrion Healthcare Co., Ltd. for CT-P43 (ustekinumab). 

CT-P43 is a monoclonal antibody that is a proposed biosimilar to Janssen’s Stelara, Hikma announced on its website.

Under the terms of the agreement, Hikma will have exclusive rights to commercialise CT-P43 in all of its MENA markets and Celltrion Healthcare will develop, manufacture and supply CT-P43 to Hikma. 

CT-P43 is an important drug used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and the agreement will help equip doctors and patients with more treatment options across the region, according to the company. 

This agreement also builds on Celltrion Healthcare and Hikma’s existing partnership in MENA, adding another immunology biosimilar to Hikma’s portfolio, a key focus of its strategy, the company added.

“We are excited to add CT-P43 to our portfolio, strengthening our offering of biosimilar and innovative biologic products,” Mazen Darwazah, Hikma’s Executive Vice Chairman and President of MENA, was quoted as saying on the company's website.

“CT-P43 is the sixth immunology biologic we add to our portfolio in MENA. This new addition enables us to increase patients’ access to important specialty products, helping them in their treatment journey for these difficult diseases,” according to the website.