Er-Kim has extended its exclusive agreement with Ascendis Pharma, broadening the reach of three endocrinology treatments across multiple countries in Eurasia.
This follows the initial exclusive distribution arrangement announced in January 2024 which covered Turkey along with Central and Eastern Europe.
The extended agreement appoints Er-Kim as the exclusive distributor for Ascendis Pharma's endocrinology rare disease portfolio in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The therapies included are once-weekly human growth hormone, SKYTROFA (lonapegsomatropin), along with TransCon CNP (navepegritide) and the first-in-class parathyroid hormone (PTH) replacement therapy, YORVIPATH (palopegteriparatide).
SKYTROFA received approval in the European Union for growth hormone-deficient individuals aged three to 18. It is also approved in the US for children aged one year and above with growth failure due to inadequate secretion of growth hormone.
TransCon CNP is currently in clinical development for achondroplasia, the widespread form of skeletal dysplasia causing disproportionate short stature. Ascendis Pharma is advancing this treatment following the completion of its pivotal ApproaCH trial.
Ascendis Pharma Europe and international president and executive vice-president Camilla Harder Hartvig stated: “At Ascendis Pharma we are driven by our commitment to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients.
“We are therefore pleased to extend our existing partnership with Er-Kim to further broaden patient access to our innovative endocrinology rare disease treatment options across Eurasia.”
YORVIPATH addresses chronic hypoparathyroidism, a condition characterised by low or absent levels of PTH. It received approval in the European Union in November 2023 for adults with this condition and in the US for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism in adults.
Er-Kim CFO Mert Zorlular stated: “We are proud of what we’ve achieved together over the past year and look forward to our expanded collaboration with Ascendis Pharma in broadening the distribution of its rare endocrinology disease therapies to address the significant unmet need for access to treatments in these countries.
“Our success in making life-saving treatments available to patients regardless of location, one country at a time, depends on our partnerships with innovative companies such as Ascendis Pharma.”
