By Ron Chen, Bureau Chief, Asia

A publicly held Taiwanese biotechnology company, Taimed Biologics signed an Exclusive License and Distribution Agreement with AcedrA BioPharmaceuticals (“AcedrA”), a Saudi Arabia-based company operating in Middle East and North Africa region, to satisfy the unmet medical needs, under which AcedrA will register, promote and commercialize Trogarzo® (Ibalizumab-uiyk) in the MENA region.

Trogarzo® has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to treat adults infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1), a virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Trogarzo® is given with other HIV medicines when none of the standard combinations work to control the infection because the virus is resistant to them (multi-drug resistant HIV).

“We are excited to broaden the reach of Trogarzo® to HIV patients in new countries. AcedrA has a focus on working with rare and orphan drugs, and this agreement gives us a great opportunity to enter the MENA region over a short time frame,” said  Chief Executive Officer of TaiMed  Dr. Jimmy Chang. “This is yet another significant step that aims to bring shareholder value through the realization of the full commercial potential of Trogarzo®.”

Under the terms of this agreement, AcedrA will be responsible in providing Trogarzo® in reply to named-patient requests through which physicians can legally and ethically prescribe Trogarzo® for patients prior to commercial availability. AcedrA, then, by a wider array of distribution activities, will be responsible for regulatory, sales, marketing, medical, and distribution in the MENA region.

‘AcedrA is responsibly engaged to serve communities where there are significant unmet therapeutic needs in the MENA region; we do believe that a synergy between AcedrA and TaiMed to make affordable the access to Trogarzo® will improve clinical outcomes for HIV patients with limited therapeutic options,” said the Chief Executive Officer of AcedrA Dr. Hosni STA. “We are committed to be a patient-centric company working closely with healthcare providers in the MENA region, and we will be pleased to partner with TaiMed strategically to improve patients’ lives in the region.”