Amgen and Arrotex expand partnership to boost distribution and patient support in osteoporosis

Pharma News: Pharmaceutical company, Amgen Australia, and Arrotex Pharmaceuticals, the largest provider of generics and private label over-the-counter (OTC) medications, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at representing Amgen’s osteoporosis drug, Prolia (denosumab).

The collaboration leverages the combined strengths of both companies to expand opportunities for Prolia and enhance support for the more than 600,000 Australians relying on this monoclonal antibody treatment for osteoporosis management.

In global developments, Amgen and Sandoz recently reached a settlement in a patent-infringement lawsuit concerning biosimilar versions of Prolia and Xgeva. The legal dispute originated in May 2023 when Amgen filed a lawsuit against Sandoz, then a subsidiary of Novartis. This resolution includes the settlement of remaining patent disputes, ahead of Sandoz’s launch of its denosumab biosimilars, Jubbonti and Wyost, by May 31, 2025. Financial details of the agreement remain confidential.

Regarding the partnership with Arrotex, Gabi Mittas, Managing Director of Amgen Australia and New Zealand, remarked “The partnership enables us to harness the expertise of both our organisations and achieve greater reach as we combine forces to support healthcare professionals and the more than 1.3 million Australians who suffer from osteoporosis.”

Mittas added, “Their history and experience in the Australian market, engagement with pharmacies across the country, and dedicated team were key factors in Amgen’s decision to make Arrotex our partner of choice to support Prolia.”

Prior collaborations between Amgen and Arrotex, such as the APPOINT patient program aimed at supporting pharmacists in identifying and engaging individuals at risk of osteoporosis, have laid the groundwork for this partnership. Under the new agreement, Arrotex will expand the program to further assist patients at risk of fractures.

Dennis Bastas, Chairman and Group CEO of DBG Health, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “Amgen is a world-leading biotechnology innovator with extensive experience in osteoporosis, and we are excited to partner with them on Prolia.”

Bastas continued, “This partnership will support the future growth of Prolia in the Australian market, utilising the infrastructure and reach of Arrotex to enhance the patient, pharmacist, and prescriber experience with this brand.”

The partnership strengthens Arrotex’s existing market-leading biologic portfolio and extends a longstanding collaboration with Amgen, which includes Amgen’s pegfilgrastim franchise and numerous biosimilar products, including Amgevita (adalimumab).

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