Biosimilars Deals 2021

Prestige Biologics, a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced it has signed a non-binding MOU with Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.  The Korea Economic Daily reported that Prestige Biologics will act as the primary manufacturing, packaging, and distribution hub in South Korea for Dr. Reddy’s extensive biopharmaceutical pipeline. Prestige plans to commence technology transfer next month in order to commence production immediately following execution of product-specific supply agreements.

On 12 July 2023, Dr Reddy’s announced that its proposed biosimilar to Genentech/Biogen’s Rituxan®/MabThera® (rituximab) will be reviewed by several global regulatory authorities, including the US FDA, EU EMA and UK MHRA.

Meitheal Pharmaceuticals announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical to commercialise three insulin biosimilars (insulin aspart, insulin lispro and insulin glargine) in the US. Under the agreement, Meitheal’s parent company Nanjing King-Friend Biochemical Pharmaceutical has the exclusive rights to commercialise the three biosimilars.  Meitheal anticipates regulatory approval of each of the biosimilars in around 2026.

On 1 April 2023, Eli Lilly launched its insulin glargine Rezvoglar®, biosimilar to Sanofi’s Lantus® in the US.

Abbott announced it has entered into a commercialisation agreement with mAbxience for several biosimilars focusing on oncology, women’s health and respiratory diseases in emerging markets in Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.  The first molecules will launch in 2025, while others are subject to further clinical development and registration. mAbxience will manufacture the biosimilars in Spain and Argentina, and will be responsible for achieving the clinical milestones for the molecules in development. Abbott will register and commercialise the biosimilars.

On 13 March 2023, a study found that mAbxience’s MB02 (bevacizumab) was bioequivalent to Genentech’s Avastin®.  In March 2022 Fresenius Kabi obtained a majority (55%) stake in mAbxience.

Biocon Biologics announced that Yesafili®, its biosimilar to Regeneron’s Eylea® (aflibercept), has received marketing approval from the European Commission (EC).  It was approved to treat various ophthalmic conditions such neovascular (wet AMD) age-related macular degeneration, visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch RVO or central RVO), visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME) and visual impairment due to myopic choroidal neovascularisation (myopic CNV).

This approval follows the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP)  positive opinion for Yesafili® on 21 July 2023.

On 20 September, Alvotech announced that the FDA has accepted its resubmitted Biologics License Application (BLA) for AVT02, a high-concentration, interchangeable biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab).  The BsUFA goal date for the resubmitted BLA is 24 February 2024.  Alvotech stated that the FDA indicated that the resubmission, which incorporated additional Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls information, is considered to be a completed response to the FDA’s Complete Response Letter (CRL) of 28 June 2023.  Alvotech announced on 13 April 2023 that it had responded to an earlier CRL received in March 2023.

On 31 August 2023, Alvotech announced that it had resubmitted the BLA for AVT02 to the FDA but did not disclose details or the BsUFA goal date.

Merck announced the US FDA accepted for priority review its supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) seeking approval for KEYTRUDA ®, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in a third cervical cancer indication.  The proposed indication is for KEYTRUDA ® in combination with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) plus concurrent chemotherapy, followed by brachytherapy (also known as concurrent chemoradiotherapy) as treatment for newly diagnosed patients with high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer.  The FDA has set a PDUFA date of 20 January 2024.

BeiGene announced it has regained worldwide rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialise Tevimbra® (tislelizumab) from Novartis, following a mutual agreement between the parties to terminate their previous collaboration and licence agreement entered into in January 2021.  BeiGene now has complete global rights to Tevimbra® without having to pay royalties to Novartis and will supply Novartis with Tevimbra® for its clinical trials.  Beigene stated that Novartis will assist BeiGene to ensure the smooth development and commercialisation of Tevimbra®, including manufacture, regulatory, safety, and clinical facets.

On 21 July 2023, BeiGene received a positive CHMP opinion for tislelizumab as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after prior platinum-based chemotherapy.

Fresenius Kabi announced that its Tyenne® (tocilizumab), biosimilar to Roche’s Actemra® / RoActemra® has been approved by the European Commission (EC) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic polyarthritis, giant cell arteritis, chimeric antigen receptor T cell-induced cytokine release syndrome, and COVID-19.  Tyenne® is the first biosimilar to Actemra® / RoActemra® approved by the EC.

The CHMP issued a positive opinion recommending approval of Tyenne® on 21 July 2023.

Korea Biomed reported that Rani Therapeutics has begun its phase I clinical trial for oral ustekinumab (RT-111) using Celltrion’s CT-P43 (ustekinumab), biosimilar to Janssen’s Stelara®.  Rani will evaluate pharmacokinetics and safety of RT-111 in up to 55 participants.

On 5 June 2023, Rani Therapeutics announced that it has expanded its partnership with Celltrion to develop an orally administered adalimumab biosimilar RT-105, following their previous collaboration on an ustekinumab biosimilar.

Samsung Biologics announced a new agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb for large-scale manufacturing of a BMS antibody cancer drug.  The agreement expands the existing 10-year manufacturing deal signed in 2013, as Samsung Biologics will manufacture the commercial antibody at its latest and largest biomanufacturing facility, Plant 4, in Songdo, South Korea.

Recently, in July 2023, Samsung Biologics entered into agreement with Pfizer  worth US$897M to manufacture biosimilar products for oncology, inflammation and immunotherapy until 2029 in Plant 4.  Samsung also confirmed on 6 June 2023 that it will open its fifth manufacturing plant in April 2025.

The FDA has released draft industry guidance for biosimilar and interchangeable biosimilar product labeling.  The guidance includes proposed recommended approaches for:

• product identification, including when to use the biosimilar or interchangeable biosimilar product name, reference product name;
• content presentation; and
• specific sections of labeling, including prescribing information, indications, usage (including specific populations and paediatrics) and clinical pharmacology.

The draft document is open for comments by 17 November 2023.

KED Global reported that Celltrion won bids to supply Yuflyma®, biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab), in five regions of Italy – accounting for approximately 20% of the Italian adalimumab market.  Yuflyma® recorded ₩54B (USD$40.7M) of sales in the first half of 2023, which Celltrion says is due to its expansion into Europe.

On 11 May 2023, Celltrion won bids to supply Vegzelma® (bevacizumab) in Italy and Belgium.

On 15 September 2023, Novartis shareholders approved the proposed Sandoz spin-off, Novartis’ generics and biosimilars business at its Extraordinary General Meeting.   The proposed spin-off was first announced by Novartis on 25 August 2022, a proposal which was unanimously endorsed by the Novartis board on 18 July 2023 with a target date of Q4/23.

The EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion for Sandoz’s Herwenda® (trastuzumab, biosimilar to Genentech’s Herceptin®), to treat metastatic and early breast cancer and metastatic gastric cancer.

On the same day, Novartis’s shareholders approved the Sandoz spin-off which is scheduled for 4 October 2023.

On 15 September 2023, EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended Sandoz’s Herwenda® (trastuzumab, biosimilar to Genentech’s Herceptin®) for approval for the treatment of metastatic and early breast cancer and metastatic gastric cancer.

CHMP also recommended an extension of indication for AstraZeneca/Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu® (trastuzumab deruxtecan) as monotherapy for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours have an activating HER2 (ERBB2) mutation and who require systemic therapy following platinum-based chemotherapy with or without immunotherapy.

CHMP also adopted a positive opinion for three new biologics:

• Eli Lily’s Ebglyss® (lebrikizumab) to treat moderate and severe forms of atopic dermatitis in adults and adolescents;
• Novartis’ Finlee® (dabrafenib) to treat glioma; and
• Daiichi Sankyo’s Vanflyta® (quizartinib) to treat patients with diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia (ACL).

The CHMP recommended indication extensions for the following biologics:

• Seagen’s Adcetris® (brentuximab vedotin) to treat patients with previously untreated CD30+ Stage III or IV Hodgkin lymphoma;
• Vertex’s Kaftrio® (ivacaftor/tezacaftor/elexacaftor) two new presentations of (60mg/40mg/80mg and 75mg/50mg/100mg granules in sachet) for use in children aged 2 to 5 years of age;
• Vertex’s Kalydeco® (ivacaftor) to include treatment of cystic fibrosis in children aged between 2 and 6 years in a combination regimen with ivacaftor/tezacaftor/elexacaftor;
• Merck’s Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) as monotherapy is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adults with non-small cell lung carcinoma who are at high risk of recurrence following complete resection and platinum‑based chemotherapy;
• Eli Lilly’s Olumiant® (baricitinib) to treat moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in paediatric patients 2 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy; and
• Takeda’s Takhzyro® (lanadelumab) to prevent recurrent attacks of hereditary angioedema in patients aged 2 years and older.

According to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Assessment Committee (PBAC) November 2023 agenda published last week, the meeting will be jammed with biopharma applications for reimbursement.  PBAC will consider the following applications for PBS listing additions or amendments at its November 2023 meeting:

In addition, a number of PBAC recommendations not accepted by applicants are set for review, including relating to Alphapharm’s Hulio® (adalimumab, biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira®), Pfizer’s Zirabev® (bevacizumab, biosimilar to Genentech’s Avastin®) and Alphapharm’s Rymti® (etanercept) biosimilar to Amgen’s Enbrel®.

On 1 March 2023, the November 2022 PBAC outcomes were announced, with three biologics listed, including Sanofi-Aventis’ dupilumab (Dupixent®) autoinjectors in two new forms, Merck’s pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) and AbbVie’s risankizumab (Skyrizi®).

Takeda announced that the FDA accepted its Biologics License Application (BLA) for its subcutaneous formulation of vedolizumab (Entyvio®) for maintenance therapy in patients with moderate to severe active Crohn’s disease after induction therapy with IV Entyvio®.  Currently Takeda’s Entyvio® is formulated and approved in the US for IV use only.

On 30 March 2023, Takeda published a study demonstrating that Entyvio® was more effective than a placebo inducing remission of chronic pouchitis after undergoing ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis.  Shortly prior on 27 March 2023 Takeda secured approval in Japan for Entyvio® SC as maintenance therapy for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis in patients with inadequate response to conventional treatment.

Sandoz and Samsung Bioepis announced they have entered an exclusive agreement to develop and commercialise SB17 (ustekinumab, biosimilar to Janssen’s Stelara®) in the US, Canada, EEA, Switzerland and the UK.  Others details of the deal are confidential.

This follows a confidential settlement in August 2023 between Samsung Bioepis and Janssen which resolved all pending disputes between the parties.  In that same month, Samsung Bioepis and Janssen filed a joint motion to terminate Samsung Bioepis’ IPR against Janssen’s US patent 10,961,307 filed 2 months earlier.

Pfizer and BioNTech announced that the FDA approved their sBLA for their 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine for patients over 12 years of age, and granted emergency use authorisation for patients from 6 months to 11 years old.  The vaccine is an omicron XBB.1.5-adapted monovalent vaccine indicated as a single dose for most patients over 5.

On 26 May 2023, Alnylam sued both Moderna and Pfizer for a third time claiming patent infringement regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

Coherus Biosciences announced that it completed its acquisition of Surface Oncology, Inc., a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company.  Coherus’ pipeline now has a number of new clinical-stage assets, including:

• Toripalimab: an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody under BLA review for treatment of advanced recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC);
• CHS-006: a TIGIT-targeted antibody currently in a phase I / II study in combination with toripalimab in patients with advanced solid tumours;
• Casdozokitug (SRF388 or casdozo): a first-in-class IL-27-targeted antibody in phase II clinical trials in lung cancer and liver cancer; and
• CHS-114 (SRF114): an ADCC-enhanced CCR8-targeted antibody in a phase I / II study as a monotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors.

On 2 August 2023, Coherus announced its Q2 2023 financial results, reporting that sales of its Cimerli® (ranibizumab), biosimilar to Genentech’s Lucentis®, had quadrupled to US$26.7M since the last quarter.

The Financial Express reported that Enzene Biosciences, subsidiary of Alkem Labs, plans to imminently launch its ranibizumab biosimilar in India. This will be Enzene’s seventh Indian biosimilar.  Enzene’s CEO confirmed that the company plans to launch two biosimilars every year.

Enzene is on market in India for bevacizumab (biosimilar to Genentech’s Avastin®) launched 29 June 2023, adalimumab (biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira®) launched 28 February 2023, denosumab (biosimilar to Amgen’s Xgeva®), approved 27 August 2021, romiplostim (biosimilar to Amgen’s Nplate®), approved 10 August 2021, and teriparatide (biosimilar to Eli Lily’s Forteo®), approved 4 February 2021.

Biocon Biologics announced that it has completed the integration of Viatris in North America ahead of schedule, effective 1 September 2023.  The target date for the integration of Viatris was end Q3 2023.

On 5 July 2023, Biocon Biologics announced it had completed a third of the integration of Viatris’ biosimilars business in over 70 countries in ‘emerging markets’. The multi-billion dollar deal was finalised on 29 November 2022, whereby Biocon has full ownership of collaboration assets, including biosimilar trastuzumab, pegfilgrastim, bevacizumab, insulin glargine, insulin aspart, and pertuzumab, as well as Viatris’ rights to adalimumab, etanercept and aflibercept.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved Celltrion’s Vegzelma®, biosimilar to Genentech’s Avastin® (bevacizumab) for a range of indications, including metastatic colorectal cancer, locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer, advanced, metastatic or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, advanced and/or metastatic renal cell cancer, grade IV glioma, epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer, and cervical cancer.

Although Celltrion is yet to announce its latest approval, it has been reported by Korean news media including the JoongAng Daily and KoreaBioMed.

Celltrion now has six biopharma products approved in Australia: Vegzelma® (bevacizumab, biosimilar to Genentech’s Avastin®) approved 5 September 2023; Yuflyma® (adalimumab, biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira®) approved on 25 March 2022; Remsima® SC (infliximab “biobetter” to Janssen’s Remicade®) approved on 12 November 2020; Herzuma® (trastuzumab, biosimilar to Genentech’s Herceptin®) approved on 17 July 2018; and Truxima® (rituximab, biosimilar to Genentech/Biogen’s Rituxan®) approved on 14 April 2018.  The TGA provisionally approved Celltrion’s Regkirona® (regdanvimab) to treat COVID-19 on 6 December 2021.

The Korea Economic Daily reported that Celltrion, Inc. announced plans to enlarge its finished pharmaceuticals manufacturing facility at its Songdo campus in Incheon, and has allocated about ₩126B (US$95M) for the project.  The expansion is scheduled to be completed by early 2026 and production to begin in 2027, with an annual production capacity of around 8 million liquid vials.

AstraZeneca announced that the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved its Calquence® (acalabrutinib) to treat a new indication: chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who have received at least one prior therapy.

On 24 August 2023 AstraZeneca had Soliris® (eculizumab) approved in Japan for a new indication to treat paediatric patients with gMG.