AstraZeneca Pharma India and Mankind Pharma have entered into an agreement for exclusive distribution of AstraZeneca’s budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) combination brand Symbicort in India.

AstraZeneca will retain the intellectual property rights to budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate and will continue to be the Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) and import license.

India is contributing 13% to the global asthma burden and a disproportionate 43% of the global asthma deaths. It highlights a clear scope of improving the way asthma is managed in the country.

"The partnership with Mankind Pharma presents an opportunity to accelerate access and maximize the potential of our asthma drug as well as the turbuhaler which is a simple device, efficient in consistently delivering a higher proportion of respirable particles than the other devices," said Dr Sanjeev Panchal, Country President and Managing Director, AstraZeneca India. 

With an expansive distribution network including close to 16,000 field force and more than 13,000 stockists across India, Mankind Pharma has positioned itself as a leader in ensuring availability and access to quality pharmaceuticals across the country, including small towns and rural areas. 

Commenting on the agreement with AstraZeneca India, Atish Majumdar, Sr. President – Sales & Marketing, Mankind Pharma said “Symbicort's dual mechanism of action and ease of use in a single inhaler can greatly help patients manage these conditions and improve their quality of life. Through our field forces’ extensive outreach, we hope to strengthen access across urban and rural markets."