ASTERI Pharma continues to support Australians Living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Asteri Pharma
- Dec 5
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 9
Australian based biopharmaceutical company ASTERI Pharma Pty Ltd, (ASTERI) is proud to partner with ITALFARMACO, a private multinational group headquartered in Milan, Italy, to continue to commercialise an oral suspension therapy to treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of Motor Neurone Disease (MND)1 in Australia and New Zealand.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in progressive paralysis.1 Survival time varies, but the average life expectancy is 2 to 5 years from diagnosis. 1,2
ALS is a rare disease that typically occurs in people between 40-70 years old, slightly more men than women. It is caused by several factors: 10-15% of cases may have a genetic/family link, while 85-90% are considered sporadic, with no known cause.2
ALS usually presents with unilateral distal muscle weakness and atrophy in upper or lower limb muscles, which is often referred to as Spinal ALS, estimated to be diagnosed in 65% of ALS patients.2
ALS can also present initially in the bulbar muscles, often referred to as Bulbar ALS, and is diagnosed in about one‐third of ALS patients. Typically, these patients most commonly present with speaking or swallowing difficulties, however over time almost all ALS patients will develop swallowing problems (dysphagia) throughout their ALS journey.3
Australian Neurologist and Professor of Neurology, University of Sydney, Steve Vucic, highlights “for people living with ALS, swallowing problems are a common symptom that worsen over time. An oral liquid treatment ensures they can continue treatment even as the disease progresses.”
Under the terms of the licensing agreement, ASTERI Pharma will be responsible for all commercial, sales, marketing, regulatory supply and distribution of this oral suspension therapy for the treatment of ALS in Australia and New Zealand.
ASTERI Pharma Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Benet Irish said “we’re proud to partner with Italfarmaco to continue to enable access to an oral suspension treatment for people living with MND in Australia. We are exploring pathways to provide access for this liquid formulation for other markets in our region, including New Zealand.”
“This aligns to our mission at ASTERI Pharma and we are steadfast on delivering on this goal. ““While there is still no cure for MND, we remain hopeful that more therapies can be made available in the future.“ said Benet Irish.
"MND Australia welcomes the availability of treatment options for people living with motor neurone disease. An oral suspension formulation of riluzole, provides another pathway for individuals who may benefit from an alternative mode of administration. Expanded treatment choice is an important step toward improving quality of life and supporting people to manage this progressive disease." says Clare Sullivan, CEO of MND Australia.
“We are excited to partner with ASTERI Pharma, so patients living with ALS in Australia and New Zealand can garner access to our riluzole oral suspension treatment “ said, ITALFARMACO VP Alliance & Partner Management, Paolo Mascarucci.
ASTERI Pharma is committed to addressing unmet medical needs and improving patient access across Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia and therefore this partnership aligns well as a licencing partner for ITALFARMACO.
For further information, please contact Benet Irish, CEO , ASTERI Pharma
Phone: 1800 178 402 (AUS)
About ASTERI PHARMA
ASTERI Pharma is an Australian-based biopharmaceutical company delivering innovative licensing and distribution solutions to unlock the value of new and emerging medicines for the Australian, ANZ and APAC markets.
We’re driven by purpose—access for all, integrity in action, and the ambition to reach beyond limits. Our focus is on addressing diseases with high unmet need, closing the equity gap, and ensuring patients get faster access to life-changing treatments.
About ITALFARMACO
Founded in 1938 in Milan, Italy, Italfarmaco is a private global pharmaceutical company that has led the successful development and approval of many pharmaceutical products around the world. The Italfarmaco group has operations in more than 90 countries through directly controlled or affiliated companies. The company is a leader in pharmaceutical research, product development, production and commercialisation with proven success in many therapeutic areas including immuno-oncology, gynaecology, neurology, cardiovascular disease and rare diseases. Italfarmaco's rare disease unit includes programmes in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and polycythaemia vera.
References
1. MND Australia website [Accessed: November 2025]
2. Masrori and Van Damme; European Journal of Neurology 2020, 27: 1918– 1929
Asteri Pharma Pty Ltd. Brunswick VIC 3056. www.asteripharma.com Date of Preparation: December 2025. TEG-ASTAUS-11250-0019
Comments