GlobeNewswire Inc | May 26, 2021 04:30AM EDT

May 26, 2021

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and TAIPEI, Taiwan, May 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TLC (Nasdaq: TLC, TWO: 4152), a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company developing novel nanomedicines to target areas of unmet medical need, and Zydus Healthcare Limited, part of Zydus Cadila group (Zydus) (NSE: CADILAHC), an innovative, global pharmaceutical group that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of healthcare therapies, today announced the signing of a license supply and commercialization agreement to commercialize AmphoTLC (Amphotericin B Liposome for Injection 50mg) in India.

Under the terms of the agreement, TLC will manufacture and supply AmphoTLC on a non-exclusive basis to Zydus, and Zydus will commercialize AmphoTLC in India.

AmphoTLC is the first and only complex generic drug to have achieved bioequivalence to Gileads AmBisome, proving its sameness to the safest form of amphotericin B in the world. With the recent surge of infections in India, AmphoTLC will address the countrys acute liposomal amphotericin B shortage.

TLC has obtained the necessary approvals for AmphoTLC from the regulatory authorities in India with the assistance of Zydus, including a new drug registration with Indias Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) on May 25, 2021, for immediate importation as per approved usage and indication of liposomal amphotericin B.

Speaking on the development, Dr. Sharvil Patel, Managing Director of Cadila Healthcare Ltd., said, With India facing an acute shortage of the drug to treat mucormycosis, we are making this critical drug available in India on an immediate basis. The need of the hour is to tackle this life-threatening infection with a safe and effective therapy.

Commenting on the speed of the process, George Yeh, President of TLC, said, We would like to thank Zydus for their quick action and cooperation in enabling a swift commercialization process. TLC is glad to be able to assist in the humanitarian crisis in such a quick fashion, and as our corporate tagline Delivering Hope for Life depicts, we will be delivering the first batch of AmphoTLC to India to help assuage the urgent need for one of the safest and most effective antifungal drugs very soon.

About AmphoTLC

AmphoTLC is a liposomal amphotericin B injection indicated for severe systemic fungal infections such as mucormycosis. The drug is approved in Taiwan and has been marketed and sold for several years under the name Ampholipad, with a steady increase in market share each year; market authorization of the drug in China is under review. The approval of AmphoTLC in India follows the conduct of complete due diligence by regulators in India based on the numerous years of development TLC has dedicated as well as its quality performance in the developed markets.

About mucormycosis

With a soaring number of COVID-19 infections in India, the number of COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) cases has also been on the rise. Mucormycosis is a serious fungal infection also known as black fungus, and CAM is a life-threatening form of mucormycosis which has emerged as a post-COVID complication, infecting about 30% of COVID patients who are diabetic or otherwise immunocompromised. If progression of the infection is not treated early, over 60% of patients could die. The increasing number of CAM cases has resulted in unprecedently high demand for liposomal amphotericin B, the key drug to treat mucormycosis, causing an acute shortage of the drug. Exploitation by sellers on the black market, who are marking up the price of liposomal amphotericin B by three times, is further exacerbating the situation. The steep increase in price and the financial burden it brings is forcing patients to opt for conventional amphotericin B, which is known for its nephrotoxicity, with many patients having to discontinue usage due to renal toxicities.

About Zydus

Zydus Cadila is an innovative, global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of healthcare therapies, including small molecule drugs, biologic therapeutics and vaccines. The group employs nearly 25,000 people worldwide, including 1,400 scientists engaged in R & D, and is dedicated to creating healthier communities globally. www.zyduscadila.com

About TLC

TLC (NASDAQ: TLC, TWO: 4152) is a clinical-stage, specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to the research and development of novel nanomedicines that maximize the potential of its proprietary lipid-assembled drug delivery platform (LipAD), including BioSeizer sustained release technology and NanoX active drug loading technology, which are versatile in the choice of active pharmaceutical ingredients and scalable in manufacturing. TLC has a diverse, wholly owned portfolio of therapeutics targeting areas of unmet medical need in pain management, ophthalmology, oncology and infectious diseases. TLC is consistently ranked in the top 5% among all listed companies in Taiwans Corporate Governance Evaluations.

ContactsTLC: Dawn Chi/Corporate Communications/dawn@tlcbio.comZydus: Sujatha Rajesh/Corporate Communications/sujatha.rajesh@zyduscadila.com