Sun Pharma gets USFDA nod for plaque psoriasis drug

Sun Pharma has received a US Food and Drug Administration approval for its novel psoriasis drug TildraKizumab, the first new drug approval for India’s largest drug maker.

The drug, which will be sold under brand name Ilumya, is expected to treat adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, an auto immune disease. Illumya was a molecule that Sun Pharma acquired from US drug maker Merck in its early stage of development to strengthen its potential in the speciality drug business.

Abhay Gandhi, CEO, North America, at Sun Pharma said, “With the approval of Ilumya and our long-standing commitment in dermatology, we are focused on making a difference for people living with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. We are committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to make Ilumya available to appropriate people with plaque psoriasis.”

With the FDA approval, Sun pharma will take on Johnson and Johnson, Novartis and Eli Lilly, which have similar products in the psoriasis space. J&J’s Stelara, Novartis Cosentyx and Eli Lilly’s Ixekizumab are the three products already in the US market.