Transgene Biotek Ltd has sold its recombinant human erythropoietin technology to TSS Export of Germany for $5 million. The technology transfer and sale formalities are expected to be completed in five-six months.

TSS Export, part of the TSS Group of Germany, will have exclusive rights to market the product in Europe, South America, West-Asia and Africa, according to Dr K. Koteswara Rao, Managing Director of Transgene Biotek.

This is the third deal that the Hyderabad-based Transgene Biotek has struck. Earlier, it had out-licensed its recombinant Hepatitis B vaccine to the Serum Institute and Orlistat, a drug to fight obesity, to a big Indian pharma company.

Erythropoietin is a hormone produced by the kidney. It helps increase haemoglobin in patients with anaemia and in injection form can help victims of kidney failure.

With competition hotting up, several players making the product are bringing down costs. Therefore, Transgene has decided to sell the technology, he told Business Line .

Transgene will have rights to sell the technology to tap the Indian, North American and Asia-Pacific markets, he added. Dr Rao said the transaction is part of the company's strategy to sell under-utilised bio-generic drug assets and generate revenues for future growth.

The company recently commenced the commercial manufacture of DHA, an Omega-3 fatty acid, which in recent years has witnessed explosive growth in the nutraceuticals and health supplements market.

“We are in talks with European and Canadian companies for a possible joint venture for the manufacture and distribution of Omega-3 as well as Tacrolimus, an API, in the non-regulated markets,” Dr Rao said.

Transgene has a strong pipeline of 9-10 potential drugs which would begin human trials in the next one year. In the last six months it has also filed for 30 patents in the Indian, US and PCT (Paris Convention Treaty) countries.

soma@thehindu.co.in

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