Hikma to distribute iron deficiency treatment

17th Aug 2011 07:09

Drugs developer Hikma Pharmaceuticals is to market Ferinject, Vifor Pharma's treatment for iron deficiency, in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region.The agreement covers Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen; collectively, these countries have around 295m inhabitants. Hikma, with over 1,600 sales and marketing staff in the region, will receive exclusive rights to market and distribute a product that complements its portfolio of prescription pharmaceuticals, the company said. The MENA pharmaceutical market is forecast to grow at an annualised rate of around 11% over the next five years, Hikma's announcement informed. Within the MENA region, Ferinject has already received marketing authorisation for Lebanon. Preparations for regulatory submissions in the other countries are already under way, and both companies are optimistic that Ferinject will be registered and made available to patients within a reasonably rapid time-frame.--jh