AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited (AstraZeneca India) and Mankind Pharma Limited have joined hands in an exclusive distribution agreement to expand the reach of AstraZeneca's flagship asthma medication, Symbicort, across India. 

This collaboration aims to address the significant burden of asthma in the country and improve access to quality treatment options.

India currently accounts for 13 percent of the global asthma burden and a staggering 43 percent of asthma-related deaths worldwide. Recognizing the urgent need to improve asthma management in the country, AstraZeneca and Mankind Pharma have come together to make Symbicort more accessible to patients in both urban and rural areas.

Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca will retain the intellectual property rights to Symbicort, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) combination. 

Dr. Sanjeev Panchal, Country President and Managing Director of AstraZeneca India, emphasized the company's commitment to transforming patient outcomes and contributing to society. He stated, "Our aspiration is to be pioneers in science and lead in specialist disease areas. We are focused on transforming outcomes for patients and contributing sustainably to people, society and the planet."

Symbicort offers a dual mechanism of action and is delivered through a Turbuhaler device, known for its efficiency in consistently delivering a higher proportion of respirable particles compared to other devices. Dr. Panchal expressed excitement about the partnership with Mankind Pharma, which he believes will accelerate access to innovative medicines in India.

Mankind Pharma, with its extensive distribution network comprising nearly 16,000 field force members and over 13,000 stockists across India, is poised to play a crucial role in ensuring the availability of Symbicort to patients nationwide. 

Atish Majumdar, Sr. President of Sales and Marketing at Mankind Pharma, reiterated the company's commitment to providing quality treatments to patients. He stated, "Through our field forces' extensive outreach, we hope to strengthen access across urban and rural markets."

Globally, AstraZeneca is a leader in respiratory care and aims to transform respiratory and immunology care in India. With a focus on disease modification and remission, AstraZeneca India is dedicated to becoming a leader in respiratory biologics. The collaboration with Mankind Pharma aligns with AstraZeneca's mission to improve patient outcomes and enhance access to globally established medicines in India.