Under the agreement, STADA gets non-exclusive distribution rights for Pegfilgrastim in geographical Europe, while Richter retains its right to distribute and market the drug worldwide.

In addition to a payment made upon the signing of the contract, STADA will make further payments depending on the progress of the project, Richter said.

Pegfilgrastim is a pegylated recombinant, human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and is used in adult patients for treatment of neutropenia, an illness that often accompanies cytotoxic chemotherapies and depicts a decrease in certain white blood cells. The active ingredient is a further development of Filgrastim, which STADA has been selling as a biosimilar since 2014.