The world’s first novel anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody

Itolizumab was launched in India in 2013 under the brand name ALZUMAb™. Itolizumab is Biocon’s second ‘lab to market’ novel biologic after Nimotuzumab and offers a ‘best-in-class’ biologic drug for acute psoriasis. ALZUMAb™ offers a less aggressive dosing regimen and a longer treatment free period and has seen encouraging outcomes. Our research also indicated Itolizumab’s potential in treating several autoimmune conditions.

Itolizumab has received emergency use approval in India to treat cytokine release syndrome in COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Partnership with Equillium for Developing Itolizumab

Equillium, a U.S.-based clinical-stage biotechnology company, acquired rights for developing and commercializing Itolizumab in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand through an exclusive collaboration and license agreement with Biocon.

Biocon outlicensed Itolizumab to Equillium in 2017. Equillium is leveraging its deep understanding of immunobiology to develop novel products to treat severe autoimmune and inflammatory disorders with high unmet medical need. The company is developing Itolizumab for multiple severe immuno-inflammatory diseases, including acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD), lupus/lupus nephritis and uncontrolled asthma.