Glenmark Specialty S.A. on Tuesday announced an exclusive marketing and distribution agreement with BeiGene, a global oncology company. Under this agreement, Glenmark will register and commercialize BeiGene’s oncology medicines, Tislelizumab and Zanubrutinib in India.
“We are excited about our partnership with BeiGene, signifying our commitment to advancing healthcare in India. The addition of Tislelizumab and Zanubrutinib to our oncology portfolio underscores our dedication to the cancer patients’ community and our commitment to provide access to novel therapies across India,” Alok Malik, President and Business Head – India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. said.
With a population exceeding 1.43 billion, India stands as the world’s most populous country and the largest lower-middle-income nation.
“This collaboration is a testament to our shared vision of enhancing healthcare access across Asia,” said Adam Roach, Vice President, and Head of Asia-Pacific at BeiGene. “We take great pride in advancing mission-driven access, especially given the significant disease burden in India, where rising cancer rates require comprehensive healthcare solutions – a commitment we share with our partners at Glenmark,” Roach said.
According to the company, this partnership is timely, as many low-and middle-income countries, including India, are experiencing an increasing cancer burden. Recent statistics indicate that India has the third highest number of cancer cases worldwide, with predictions suggesting this could reach 2.08 million cases by 2040 – a 57.5 per cent increase from 2020.
Currently, cancer claims approximately 900,000 lives annually in India. While solid tumors remain the majority of cancers diagnosed, of particular concern is the burgeoning prevalence of blood cancer, ranking third highest globally, following only the US and China. In India, a blood cancer diagnosis strikes every five minutes, claiming an estimated 70,000 lives each year.
