SK Chemicals has expanded its partnership with AstraZeneca. The Korean manufacturer will produce type 2 diabetes drug Sidapvia, which the companies have developed over the last three years.
SK Chemicalsill take place at SK’s facility iAstraZeneca the capital citdiabetesth ChuSidapvia Province. SK also will handle distribution in Korea. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The deal enhances the partnership the companies formed in 2020 when they combined to develop Sidapvia. AZ first provided active pharmaceutical ingredients and funded research. Later, SK assumed control of product R&D and conducted clinical trials in Korea.
Those efforts helped gain an approval for Sidapvia last month in Korea, the first of its kindSidapviade. The drug is a combination of AZ’s SGLT-2 blockbuster Farxiga and DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin, which is marketed in the U.S. as Merck's Januvia.
With their differing mechanisms of action,Sidapviabo is expected to provide greater glycemic lowering effects than either drug alone, accorSGLT-2o the Korean Farxigas AssDPP-4ion guidelines.MerckJanuvia
Under the deal, AstraZeneca will be responsible for seeking regulatory approvals outside of Korea.Diabetes
Also in 2020, thAstraZeneca partnered on a production deal for AZ’s COVID-19 vaccine at SK’s plant in Andong.