Biopharmaceutical company RedHill Biopharma Ltd (Nasdaq: RDHL) announced on Wednesday that it has launched Talicia, its low-dose rifabutin-containing treatment for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This launch makes Talicia available by prescription, targeting a bacterial infection that affects 41% of the UAE's population.

The introduction of Talicia in the UAE triggers RedHill's eligibility for milestone payments, minimum sales payments and tiered royalties up to mid-teens on net sales. Talicia, already a leading branded therapy in the United States, is the first approved all-in-one combination product in the UAE specifically designed to address the high resistance of H. pylori to traditional antibiotics.

Clarithromycin-based therapies have shown declining effectiveness, with a recent study indicating only 68.5% eradication rates, further decreasing in patients with resistant strains. Talicia offers an alternative, unaffected by such resistance, providing a critical option for effective treatment.

RedHill's Talicia is protected by US patents extending until 2034 and benefits from eight years of market exclusivity under its Qualified Infectious Disease Product designation.