German pharmaceutical company Grünenthal has entered into a new partnership agreement with DKSH Business Unit Healthcare to expand access to its pain medicines across eight markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
The expanded partnership aims to introduce four Grünenthal medicines — Qutenza, Vimovo, Palexia and Zomig — across Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, subject to local regulatory approvals.
Under the agreement, DKSH will commercialise the medicines on behalf of Grünenthal and will be responsible for seeking local marketing authorisations, as well as marketing, medical, market access, sales and distribution activities.
Grünenthal will manufacture the medicines through its integrated global manufacturing network.
Jan Adams, chief commercial officer, Grünenthal, said the company’s medicines have delivered benefits to millions of people living with pain worldwide.
“Through our partnership with DKSH, we are taking another significant step toward broadening access to proven therapies and extending the reach of our medicines to more patients who need them,” he said.
“With pain affecting potentially hundreds of millions across Asia-Pacific, new care options that meet the broad spectrum of patient needs are critical,” he added.
Patrik Grande, global head of Business Unit Healthcare, DKSH, described the expanded partnership as “another important milestone in DKSH Healthcare’s new chapter of growth.”
“Leveraging our regional partnership model and integrated end-to-end commercialisation platform, we are well positioned to accelerate growth, improve access to innovative therapies for patients across the region, and advance our mission of delivering healthcare for all,” he said.
Grünenthal said pain remains a significant healthcare challenge in Asia-Pacific, driven in part by an ageing population and the high burden of chronic diseases.
About the Medicines
Qutenza (capsaicin): In Europe, Qutenza is indicated for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain in adults, either alone or in combination with other medicinal products for pain management.
In the US, Qutenza (capsaicin) 8% topical system is approved for the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia and neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) of the feet in adults.
Vimovo: A fixed-dose combination of esomeprazole and naproxen, Vimovo is indicated in adults for the symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis in patients who are at risk for developing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-associated gastric or duodenal ulcers and where treatment with lower doses of naproxen or of other NSAIDs is not considered sufficient.
Zomig (zolmitriptan): Zomig is indicated as an oral formulation in adults aged 18 years and older for the acute treatment of migraine headache, with or without aura. Its nasal spray formulation is indicated in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older for the acute treatment of migraine headache with or without aura, and in adults for the acute treatment of cluster headache.
Palexia (tapentadol): Palexia prolonged-release tablets are indicated for the management of severe chronic pain in adults that can be adequately managed only with opioid analgesics. The formulation is also indicated for severe chronic pain in children aged over six years and adolescents where opioid analgesics are required.
Palexia immediate-release film-coated tablets are indicated for the relief of moderate to severe acute pain in adults that can be adequately managed only with opioid analgesics.
The medicine is also available as an oral solution, indicated for moderate to severe acute pain in children and adolescents from two years of age and in adults where opioid analgesics are required.
Grünenthal and DKSH first established their partnership in 2023, when DKSH took over the commercialisation of the established medicines Nebido, Zomig and Tramal in selected Asia-Pacific markets.
Under the new agreement, DKSH will seek local marketing authorisations for Qutenza, Vimovo, Palexia and Zomig across the eight participating markets. Zomig will also be introduced in additional markets that were not covered by the 2023 agreement.
Headquartered in Aachen, Germany, Grünenthal specialises in pain management and related diseases, with affiliates in 28 countries across Europe, Latin America and the US.
Switzerland-based DKSH is a market expansion services provider offering sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, e-commerce, distribution and logistics, and after-sales services. The company operates in 35 markets. Its Business Unit Healthcare distributes pharmaceuticals, consumer health and over-the-counter (OTC) products, as well as medical devices.
