Freienbach, February 6, 2024 – EffRx Pharmaceuticals SA, a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of musculoskeletal and rare diseases medications, today announced that it has signed an exclusive licensing and distribution agreement for Binosto® in Vietnam and the Philippines with Lupin Limited (Lupin), a global pharma major company.

BINOSTO® (buffered soluble alendronate) is indicated for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and is currently marketed in Europe, US, Middle East, and Asia. It offers an important treatment option for postmenopausal women suffering from osteoporosis, effectively reducing the risk of debilitating fractures. Binosto® is associated with a lower frequency of upper gastrointestinal side effects and demonstrates higher persistence compared to reported cases with alendronate tablets.

Dr. Fabrice Egros, President – Corporate Development and Growth Markets, Lupin said, “We are excited about our collaboration with EffRx Pharmaceuticals, which will empower postmenopausal women with this innovative healthcare solution. Introducing BINOSTO® to Vietnam and Philippines signifies our commitment to advancing healthcare, further exemplifying Lupin’s global commitment to improving health outcomes.”

Lorenzo Bosisio, Chief Executive Officer of EffRx said, “We are delighted to announce the partnership with Lupin to further expand the footprint of Binosto® . With their well-established expertise and presence in Vietnam and the Philippine, Lupin is the partner of choice to make Binosto® widely available to women in these countries suffering from this debilitating bone-thinning disease.”

Under the terms of the agreement, EffRx will grant Lupin an exclusive license to commercialize BINOSTO® in Vietnam and the Philippines and will also supply the product to Lupin.

About BINOSTO®:
Binosto® (alendronate 70 mg effervescent tablets) is the first and only buffered solution for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and bone to increase bone mass in men. It reduces the risk of hip, spine, and non-spine fractures. Binosto® is taken once a week as an easy-to-swallow, buffered solution with no risk of a tablet getting lodged in the esophagus. The buffered solution with high acid-neutralizing capacity minimizes the risk of exposing the esophagus (in case of reflux) and the stomach to acidified alendronate.^1,2 Binosto® is associated with a lower frequency of upper GI side effects than reported for alendronate tablets³ and with higher persistence than alendronate tablets^4,5, thereby decreasing the risk of disabling fractures.

1. Binosto EU Summary of Product Characteristics 2023.
2. Hodges LA et al. Modulation of gastric pH by a buffered soluble effervescent formulation: a possible means of improving gastric tolerability of alendronate. Int J Pharm 2012.
3. Minisola S et al. A Prospective Open‐Label Observational Study of a Buffered Soluble 70 mg Alendronate Effervescent Tablet on Upper Gastrointestinal Safety and Medication Errors: The GastroPASS Study. JBMR Plus 2021.
4. Giusti A et al. A novel effervescent formulation of oral weekly alendronate (70 mg) improves persistence compared to alendronate tablets in post-menopausal women with osteoporosis. Aging Clin Exp Res 2021.
5. Gonnelli S et al. Retrospective evaluation of persistence in osteoporosis therapy with oral bisphosphonates in Italy: the TOBI study. Aging  Clin Exp Res 2019.

Disclaimer: Please refer to the official Binosto® prescribing information and approved indications, contraindications, and warnings in your country.

About EffRx:
EffRx is a Swiss commercial-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of musculoskeletal and rare diseases medications. EffRx’s lead commercialized product, Binosto® for the treatment of osteoporosis, is successfully commercialized by Licensees across European, Asian and Middle Eastern countries. EffRx is controlled by Abiogen Pharma S.p.A., an Italian leading company in the field of osteoarticular and bone metabolism diseases.

About Lupin
Lupin is an innovation-led transnational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Mumbai, India. The Company develops and commercializes a wide range of branded and generic formulations, biotechnology products, and APIs in over 100 markets in the U.S., India, South Africa, and across the Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LATAM), Europe, and Middle East regions. The Company enjoys a leadership position in the cardiovascular, anti-diabetic, and respiratory segments and has a significant presence in the anti-infective, gastro-intestinal (GI), central nervous system (CNS), and women’s health areas. Lupin is the third-largest pharmaceutical company in the U.S. by prescriptions. The company invested 7.9% of its revenue in research and development in FY23. Lupin has 15 manufacturing sites, 7 research centers, more than 20,000 professionals working globally, and has been consistently recognized as a ‘Great Place to Work’ in the Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals sector. Please visit  www.lupin.com for more information.

Contact:
Media: Ms. Pamela Saredi
info@effrx.com

Heena Dhedhi
Deputy General Manager – Corporate Communications, Lupin
heenadhedhi@lupin.com