GNT Pharma partners with Pfizer for animal drug development

GNT Pharma's headquarters in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province (GNT Pharma)

GNT Pharma said Monday that the company has signed an agreement with Pfizer's contract manufacturing arm for overseas production of the company’s veterinary medication GedaCure.

Under the recent agreement, Pfizer CentreOne, which has production facilities in around 30 countries, will provide GNT Pharma with CDMO services in the countries, including the US and Europe, where GNT Pharma launches GedaCure.

GedaCure is a chewable tablet of crisdesalazine and the world’s first multi-target neuroprotection drug used to treat dogs with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). Like Alzheimer’s disease, canine CDS is an age-related progressive neurodegenerative disease with a cognitive and behavioral deficit.

In February, 2021, GedaCure was approved in South Korea, and currently is used at around 1,800 veterinary clinics in the country, the company said. In Korea, Yuhan is responsible for the drug’s distribution.

After its success in South Korea, GNT Pharma plans to launch GedaCure overseas. According to GNT Pharma, the company has received some 200 purchase requests from 21 foreign countries. Around 100 purchase requests were from the US, followed by Brazil, Japan, the UK and Mexico.

“Currently, Russia, Taiwan and some Southeast Asian countries are also waiting for supplies of GedaCure,” GNT Animal Health Business Unit COO Lee Jin-hwan said. “As Pfizer CentreOne begins production of GedaCure, the company will enter the US and European markets as well,” Lee added.

When launched, GedaCure is expected to generate 57.4 billion won ($43 million) and 114 billion won of annual sales in the US market and the European market, respectively, an official from the company added.

GNT Pharma is also in discussions with global veterinary pharmaceutical companies to transfer the sales rights of GedaCure.

“The company found administration of crisdesalazine significantly and noticeably improved cognitive function and behavioral activity without causing adverse effects in dogs with CDS in its clinical studies, as well as in post-marketing drug surveillance,” said GNT Pharma President and CEO Gwag Byoung-joo. “Based on the efficacy and safety of the drug, the company will accelerate the company’s expansion into overseas markets,” Gwag added.

By Shim Woo-hyun(ws@heraldcorp.com)