Biocon, Tabuk Pharmaceuticals to commercialise diabetes, chronic weight management products

Biocon will develop and manufacture the products and Tabuk Pharmaceuticals will hold the marketing authorisation rights, and be responsible for registering, importing, and promoting them in the Middle East region

Biocon announced the signing of a licensing and supply agreement with Tabuk Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company (a fully-owned subsidiary of Astra Industrial Group), a leading pharmaceutical company in the

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, to commercialise its GLP-1 products for treating diabetes and chronic weight management, in select countries of the Middle East.

Under the terms of this agreement, Biocon will develop and manufacture the products and Tabuk Pharmaceuticals will hold the marketing authorisation rights, and be responsible for registering, importing, and promoting them in the region. The agreement also provides for a provision to expand to other GLP products, as well as the option of a tech transfer that will enable localised manufacturing at a later stage.

Siddharth Mittal, CEO and MD, Biocon, said, “I am pleased to expand our partnership with Tabuk Pharmaceuticals, which paves the way for our vertically integrated, complex GLP-1 formulations entry into Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region. The partnership is further validation of our concerted focus on GLPs and Peptides as future growth drivers. This is another important milestone for Biocon, reflecting our commitment to providing patients around the globe with affordable medications, by establishing a strong portfolio of products, either directly or through strategic partnerships.”

Ismail Shehadah, CEO, Tabuk Pharmaceuticals, added, “We are excited to announce our partnership with Biocon that will enable us to deliver unique health solutions aimed at enhancing the well-being of people in Saudi Arabia and other countries we operate in. We are confident that this partnership supports our efforts to manufacture and localise a range of GLP-1 products in the region and strengthen our market-leading position in the area of diabetes medications, in line with our strategy. This also stands as a commitment from our side to support the 2030 vision of Saudi Arabia through localising speciality pharmaceutical products in the Kingdom.”