Naidu to lead Neuraxpharm’s Aussie launch with sights set on MS market

Neuraxpharm has officially launched its Australian affiliate, marking a key milestone in its global expansion strategy. Leading the local operations is newly appointed Head of Commercial, Avendran Naidu, who brings more than 15 years of pharmaceutical experience focused on neuroscience.

The local affiliate is preparing to commercialise Briumvi (ublituximab), an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Following a positive recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) at its May 2025 meeting, Neuraxpharm is now working through price negotiations with the government for PBS listing.

“This is an exciting time for Neuraxpharm Australia as we establish our presence in a new and important market,” said Avendran Naidu, Head of Commercial for Neuraxpharm Australia. “Our mission here is fully aligned with our global purpose: to provide innovative solutions for CNS disorders and improve the lives of patients.”

A key advantage for Briumvi lies in its convenience for patients. The drug offers a one-hour intravenous infusion twice per year following the initial dose. This shorter administration time differentiates it from Roche’s Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) and Sanofi’s Lemtrada (alemtuzumab), while also requiring less frequent dosing than Novartis’ Kesimpta (ofatumumab) and Biogen’s Tysabri (natalizumab).

A recent systematic review reported that Briumvi offers comparable efficacy to other high-efficacy monoclonal antibody therapies in terms of reducing relapse rates and slowing disability progression.

In addition to Briumvi, Neuraxpharm Australia will take back promotion of Nuvigil (armodafinil) and Modavigil (modafinil), which are currently distributed locally by Teva Pharmaceuticals. Both treatments, used for Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS) in adults with narcolepsy, were acquired by Neuraxpharm in December 2024.

“Neuraxpharm’s launch in Australia reflects our successful ongoing global growth strategy, which is focused on providing a wide range of CNS treatments to patients in need,” said Dr Jörg-Thomas Dierks, CEO of Neuraxpharm.

“Australia is a key market for Neuraxpharm, and we welcome Avendran Naidu as a highly motivated and results-driven pharmaceutical commercial leader who will take Neuraxpharm Australia to the next level. We believe that our portfolio of products will be an important addition to the treatments currently available to Australian patients.”

Naidu further commented, “As we grow, we’ll be looking to build a team of passionate, like-minded professionals who share our dedication to advancing CNS care and improving patient outcomes.”

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