Affordable treatment for Hepatitis C in the offing

KUALA LUMPUR: CCM Duopharma Biotech Bhd (CCMD) has entered into a collaboration with Natco Pharma Ltd of India to commercialise a range of Hepatitis C products in Malaysia to improve access and affordability for patients who currently fork out large sums of money for treatment in the country.

Under the strategic partnership, CCMD also gained the right from Natco Pharma Ltd to market and sell a wide- range of Hepatitis products in Malaysia.

These products were developed by Gilead Sciences Ireland UC and have granted Natco Pharma Ltd the right to manufacture, market and sell Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and formulations containing their proprietary compounds, CCMD said in its statement yesterday.

Group managing director Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar said that the collaboration with Natco Pharma Ltd would enable CCMD to address serious public health challenges in the country and offer people living with Hepatitis better access to affordable treatment.

“Hepatitis C is known as a silent epidemic and it has been reported that about 500,000 Malaysians have the disease with 2,000 new cases every year.

“Currently, only a select few can afford treatment for Hepatitis C as medication may cost up to RM300,000 per treatment.

“Some patients even spend more to participate in clinical trials for other potential cures or seek treatment overseas,” said Leonard Ariff.

The latest effort by CCMD marks its second collaboration with Natco Pharma Ltd.

Previously, CCMD collaborated with the pharmaceutical company to commercialise a wide-range of oncology products. — Bernama