TSB Therapeutics has partnered with CR Pharma (China Resources Pharmaceutical Commercial Group) for the commercialization of amubarvimab and romlusevimab combination, which is used for the fight against Covid-19 in China. TSB is a joint venture in which Brii Bio (Brii Biosciences Limited) is the majority owner. Brii Bio a multi-national company that works on the development of ground-breaking therapies for illnesses that have substantial medical needs that are unmet.
According to the partnership, stockpiling, channel distribution and hospital access of the company’s neutralizing mAbs will be improved. The drug combination therapy was developed by Brii Bio in collaboration with the 3rd People’s Hospital of Shenzhen and Tsinghua University.
TSB Therapeutics was founded by Brii Bio, Tsinghua University and 3rd People’s Hospital of Shenzhen back in May of 2020. It is dedicated to the development of the combination amubarvimab and romlusevimab and solely has the development and commercial rights of the combination in Greater China.
China Resources Pharmaceutical Commercial Group Co., Ltd., or CR Pharma, is a Hong Kong-based pharmaceutical distribution firm that engages in the delivery, distribution and marketing of pharmaceutical products. It also has the qualifications enabling it to import and export medical supplies. The parent company of CR Pharma is China Resources Pharmaceutical Group. The company has one of the largest networks in China, spreading across 31 provinces and municipalities. It ranks in the top 3 in China for business scale.
Romlusevimab and Amubarvimab are SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal neutralizing antibodies that are attained from recuperated COVID-19 patients. These were developed by a partnership between Tsinghua University, 3rd People’s Hospital of Shenzhen and Brii Bio. They have been engineered to elongate the plasma half-lives and lower the risk of dependency on anti-body enhancement.
One of the major reasons for partnering is to ensure short and consistent delivery times in an effort to control the pandemic in the area. However, TSB is not to limit itself to one partnership and will be exploring more opportunities to form alliances in an attempt to extend the reach of the combination in China even further.
Rogers Luo, Brii Bio Greater China president and GM, said, “This strong and strategic partnership and unique operating model enables Brii Bio to rapidly expand access to our amubarvimab/romlusevimab combination to help more Covid-19 patients in China and we look forward to exploring in-depth collaborative efforts with China Resources Pharmaceutical Group down the line for the long-term benefit of patients and the healthcare community.”
Last year December saw the combination approved by NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) of China, for the treatment of people aged between 12 and 17 and having a minimum weight of 40 kilograms. It was approved for people with mild COVID-19 who were at high risk of it transforming to severe.
Earlier this year in March, the National Health Commission of China included the combination in its guidelines for COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment. Fast forward to early July, the combination achieved commercial availability in the country.
Hong Mu, CR Pharma Commercial Chairman, expressed his joy on the commercial availability of the combination, saying it would enable the reach of the treatment to a larger number of suffering people, for whom it could be beneficial.
