Sanofi Genzyme Korea, a subsidiary of Sanofi, said Thursday that it has launched its rare blood disorder franchise.

Sanofi acquired Bioverativ and Ablynx, which specialize in the research and development of hemophilia and rare blood diseases, in January of last year, as well as obtaining global development and marketing rights for Phytosan, a hemophilia A and B treatment developed by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals.

Sanofi Genzyme said it has strengthened its portfolio by establishing a rare blood disorder division, which will provide a variety of innovative and rare blood disease treatment options in the local market, including treatment for hemophilia.

The new division is preparing for the commercialization of the half-life extended hemophilia A treatment Eloctate, a blood coagulation factor VIII-Fc fusion protein, and half-life extended hemophilia B treatment Alprolix, a blood coagulation factor IX Fc fusion protein, within the year.

Eloctate and Alprolix received approval from the FDA in 2014, while acquiring local approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2017.

Eloctate and Alprolix, which apply Fc fusion protein technology, use natural pathways in the human body to increase the duration of blood coagulation factors in the bloodstream. The process allows the decrease of interval and dosage administration frequencies.

“The rare blood disease division will make efforts to improve the treatment of rare blood diseases in Korea and make positive changes in patients' lives, starting with Eloctate and Alprolix,” Sanofi Genzyme Korea General Manager Christine Park said. “With the launch of the division, Sanofi will be able to accelerate the development of new hemophilia and hematologic disease treatment options as well as existing hemophilia treatment candidates.”

The company’s new division is also preparing a more extensive portfolio of rare blood disease treatments such as cold agglutinin disease, sickle cell Disease, β-Thalassemia, and acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

corea022@docdocdoc.co.kr

<© Korea Biomedical Review, All rights reserved.>