LONDON: Diurnal Group plc (AIM: DNL), the specialty pharmaceutical company targeting patient needs in chronic endocrine (hormonal) diseases, announced a distribution agreement with Vector Pharma FCZO (“Vector Pharma”), a leading full-service distributor, for the distribution of Alkindi® (hydrocortisone granules in capsules for opening) across the Middle East and North Africa regions.
Under the terms of the distribution agreement, Vector Pharma will receive the exclusive rights to distribute Alkindi® in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
Through Vector Pharma, Alkindi® will be available to paediatric patients who qualify through applicable Early Access programmes for patients with diseases of cortisol deficiency who have no other treatment options.
This latest distribution agreement for the Company will further extend the global rollout of Alkindi®, which is already approved in the UK, European Economic Area, Israel, Australia, and the US (where it is known as Alkindi Sprinkle®). Alkindi® is the first licensed preparation of hydrocortisone (the synthetic version of cortisol) specifically designed for use in children suffering from adrenal insufficiency (AI), including the related condition congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).
In accordance with the Company’s existing distribution agreements, Diurnal will provide Alkindi® from its established European supply chain for sale by Vector Pharma. It is expected that Alkindi® will be available to patients in the Middle East and North Africa during Q2 2022. This agreement adds to the Company’s ongoing strategy for commercialisation of its lead products beyond the larger European markets, where Diurnal markets its products itself, through entering into international distribution agreements with companies focused on niche and orphan conditions.
Martin Whitaker, Chief Executive Officer of Diurnal, commented: “We are pleased to be working with Vector Pharma to extend the availability of Alkindi® to a large geographic region where there is a significant unmet patient need in children suffering from AI and CAH. Working with Vector Pharma will further broaden the future availability of Alkindi® outside of our core markets and we believe that Vector Pharma is well-positioned to distribute Alkindi® across the 14 counties in this agreement and to ensure it reaches key healthcare providers and patients.”
Samer Semaan, Managing Director of Vector Pharma, commented: “I am excited to announce this regional distribution agreement between Vector Pharma and Diurnal. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is the most common form of paediatric AI affecting young patients throughout the Middle East and North Africa, and we hope that allowing both patients and prescribers access to this important therapy will make a difference in the lives of families throughout the region.”
