New Asia Pacific Drug Partnership
DKSH Partners with BridgeBio to Bring ATTR-CM Treatment to Asia Pacific Markets
Anonymous
DKSH and BridgeBio have struck a strategic distribution deal to bring a promising heart drug to four Asia-Pacific markets: Australia, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. The drug, acoramidis, stabilizes a protein called transthyretin (TTR) — when this protein misfolds, it deposits in the heart and causes a fatal condition known as ATTR-CM, or transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy, according to Financial Post.
Under the agreement, DKSH will handle regulatory filings, medical affairs, and distribution across the four markets. No patients can receive the drug yet — commercialization depends on approval from local health authorities in each country, according to Chatham Daily News.
A Fatal Heart Disease With Few Treatment Options
ATTR-CM is a progressive disease where misfolded proteins form waxy deposits in the heart, leading to heart failure. Patients often live just two to five years after diagnosis. The disease was historically underdiagnosed, and for years, Pfizer's tafamidis was the only approved oral pill to slow it down.
BridgeBio developed acoramidis to do more. The drug mimics a naturally occurring protective gene variant and achieves what researchers call "near-complete" TTR protein stabilization — meaning at least 90% of the protein is stabilized. In the ATTRibute-CM Phase 3 trial, the drug cut the combined risk of death and heart-related hospitalization by 42%, according to The Observer.
Acoramidis Already Approved in US and Europe, Asia Is Next
The U.S. FDA approved acoramidis under the brand name Attruby™ on November 22, 2024. The European Commission followed on February 11, 2025, approving it as BEYONTTRA™ through a licensing deal with Bayer. Now BridgeBio is pushing into Asia, and it has chosen DKSH as its regional partner rather than a major pharma peer.
Analysts say this choice is deliberate. By using a distributor instead of a pharma giant, BridgeBio retains more control over its brand and commercial returns in the region while outsourcing the regulatory and logistical work to DKSH. BridgeBio CEO Neil Kumar has said the drug is designed to "set a new standard of care" for ATTR-CM patients, according to Prince George Post.
DKSH's Regulatory Machinery Kicks Into Gear
The immediate next step is submitting drug approval dossiers to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in Singapore. South Korea and Taiwan, which have recently expanded their rare disease lists for faster reimbursement, are also priority targets. DKSH operates over 100 distribution centers and manages CHF 11.1 billion in annual net sales.
Bijay Singh, DKSH's Head of Healthcare, has emphasized the company's "integrated commercial capabilities" as key to bringing biotech innovation to Asian markets. The global ATTR treatment market was valued at $9.5 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $23.7 billion by 2035, making the Asia-Pacific foothold a significant commercial prize, according to Financial Post.
High Price Tag Clouds Patient Access Hopes
In the U.S., acoramidis carries a list price of $18,759 per 28-day supply — roughly $225,000 per year. That figure now serves as the starting point for price negotiations with health ministries in Australia, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, all of which run public healthcare systems with tight drug budgets.
Patient advocates in the region remain cautious. The partnership announcement uses the phrase "potential patient access" — a qualifier that reflects real uncertainty. Gaining regulatory approval is just the first hurdle. Getting governments to reimburse a $225,000-per-year drug for their aging populations is the much harder challenge, according to Chatham Daily News.
Sentiment
NeutralNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
4
Articles
4
Reach
4
A
AnonymousAuthor
