AHMEDABAD: Leading Indian drugmakers, Zydus Lifesciences and Sun Pharmaceutical industries entered into a licensing agreement to co-market Desidustat, an oral treatment for anaemia, associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The agreement allows Sun Pharma to co-market the product developed by Zydus Lifesciences Limited, the companies announced in a joint note.

Desidustat is an oral treatment for anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in India.
Sun Pharma will sell the drug as Rytstat, while Zydus has been selling it as Oxemia since 2022 and will continue to market it. Zydus will receive upfront licensing income and is eligible to receive milestone income based on achievement of pre-defined milestones, the joint statement mentioned
Desidustat provides CKD patients with an oral, convenient therapeutic option for the treatment of anemia.

Kirti Ganorkar, CEO, Sun Pharma (India Business), said, “The addition of the drug strengthened our nephrology portfolio in India.”
A Zydus Lifesciences spokesperson added, the drug was a critical treatment option for CKD patients, and had improved the patients’ quality of life since it was oral and convenient to take, as compared to an injection.