Lupin and Zentiva Ink Licensing Deal to Commercialize Certolizumab in Europe

Indian pharmaceutical major Lupin Limited and pan-European drugmaker Zentiva Group have signed a license and supply agreement to commercialize Lupin’s biosimilar Certolizumab Pegol across multiple global markets.

The partnership is aimed at accelerating access to affordable, high-quality biosimilar Certolizumab Pegol, a treatment for several chronic autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and psoriasis.

Under the agreement, Lupin will develop, manufacture, and supply the biosimilar, while Zentiva will handle commercialization outside the U.S. and Canada, focusing on Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Lupin will retain commercialization rights in the U.S., Canada, and other unspecified regions.

“This partnership underscores our dedication to improving the quality of life for individuals living with chronic conditions,” said Fabrice Egros, President of Corporate Development at Lupin. “With Zentiva’s strong European footprint, we can expand access to this important therapy across key global markets.”

As part of the deal, Lupin will receive an upfront payment of $10 million and is eligible for development and regulatory milestone payments totaling up to $50 million. Profits from defined markets will be shared between the two companies.

Certolizumab Pegol is a recombinant, PEGylated, humanized antibody fragment that targets TNFα (tumor necrosis factor alpha), used to manage autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.