BioBlast®

On 26 April 2024, Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Assessment Committee (PBAC) published the outcomes of the applications for reimbursement considered at its March 2024 meeting.

The following biosimilars have been recommended for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS):

• Amgen’s Wezlana® (ustekinumab); and
• Celltrion’s Yuflyma® (adalimumab) and Vegzelma® (bevacizumab).

In addition, the following biopharmaceuticals have been recommended for first time listing on the PBS:

• AstraZeneca’s Enhertu® (trastuzumab deruxtecan) for the treatment of patients with HER2-low unresectable or metastatic breast cancer, and Saphnelo® (anifrolumab) for the treatment of patients with severe systemic lupus erythematosus with high disease activity despite standard of care;
• UCB’s Bimzelx® (bimekizumab) for the treatment of severe psoriatic arthritis;
• new forms of Janssen-Cilag’s Stelara® (ustekinumab), as 45 mg and 90 mg pre-filled syringe (PFS) and pre-filled pen (PFP); and
• a new subcutaneous form and strength of Roche’s Tecentriq® (atezolizumab).

PBAC reports that applications for an Authority Script PBS listing of Regeneron’s Eylea® (aflibercept) for the treatment of patients with visual impairment due to DMO and for the treatment of visual impairment caused by CNV secondary to AMD are to be considered at a “future” PBAC meeting.

On 28 March 2024, the Korea IT Times reported the US launch of Celltrion’s pediatric 20mg Yuflyma®, biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab), for the treatment of pediatric autoimmune disease. Three Yuflyma® dosage forms are now available in the US, with an 80mg dose launched in January 2024 and a 40mg dose, first approved by the FDA in May 2023, launched last year.  All dosage forms are the high concentration formulation of adalimumab (100mg/mL).

Earlier this year, Celltrion applied to the FDA seeking interchangeable status for Yuflyma®.  Celltrion has previously said that it “tentatively expects” interchangeability designation to be granted in Q4 2024.

On 7 February 2024, the Korea IT Times reported that Celltrion announced that it has won the Norwegian government’s tender to supply Remsima SC® (infliximab biosimilar) and Yuflyma® (adalimumab biosimilar) until 2026.  

Celltrion aims to expand further into the Nordic area with plans to enter into Denmark with Remsima SC® sometime in 2024.  

Business Korea reported that Celltrion launched its 80mg dose of Yuflyma®, biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab), in the US on 17 January 2024.  It is the same high-concentration (100mg/mL) formulation as the 40mg dosage form already available in the US.  Celltrion will launch a 20mg dose for paediatric patients in Q1 2024.

Last week Celltrion won several European bids to supply Yuflyma®.

Korea Biomedical Review reported that Celltrion has won bids to supply Yuflyma®, biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab) in Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG) and Sicily in Italy, as well as in the south eastern region of Netherlands. Celltrion will supply Yuflyma® for four and a half years in FVG, two years in Sicily, and for the next three years in the Netherlands.  Celltrion also won a bid to supply Remsima®, biosimilar to Janssen’s Remicade® (infliximab) in Sicily for two years.

On 18 September 2023, Celltrion won bids to supply Yuflyma® in five other regions of Italy, amounting to 20% of the Italian adalimumab market.

Celltrion announced in a corporate filing that it applied to the FDA seeking interchangeable status for CT-P17 (Yuflyma®), biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab), on 9 January 2024.  On 2 October 2023 the FDA approved Celltrion’s Yuflyma® in 20mg (pre-filled syringe) and 80mg (pre-filled autoinjector and pre-filled syringe) dosages, in addition to the 40mg dose approved on 24 May 2023.

Korea Biomed has reported that US pharmacy provider CarePartners Pharmacy will exclusively supply Celltrion’s biosimilar adalimumab (Yuflyma®) in the US.  It has removed AbbVie’s Humira® from its product line.  The partnership will be relevant to the supply of adalimumab to more than 10 million patients linked with CarePartners.

On 5 October 2023, Celltrion USA announced that Ventegra® listed Yuflyma® as a “preferred drug” from early October 2023.

Celltrion USA announced that large Medical Benefits Manager Ventegra, will add Yuflyma®, biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab) to its formulary as a “preferred drug” by ‘the first part of October 2023’.

On 2 October 2023, Celltrion announced that it received FDA approval for two additional dosages of Yuflyma®.

FDA has approved Celltrion’s Yuflyma® in 20mg (pre-filled syringe) and 80mg (pre-filled autoinjector and pre-filled syringe) dosages, in addition to the 40mg dose approved on 24 May 2023.

The Celltrion 80mg adalimumab auto-injector and pre-filled syringe were approved by Healthcare Canada on 30 August 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.

Celltrion Healthcare Canada announced that Yuflyma®, biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab), is now available in an 80 mg auto-injector and pre-filled syringe. It is the only adalimumab biosimilar available at an 80 mg dose in an auto-injector.

On 1 July 2023, Yuflyma® became commercially available in the US after Celltrion obtained a licence from AbbVie on 27 April 2022.

Seven biosimilars to AbbVie’s Humira® (adalimumab): Coherus Biosciences’ Yusimry®, Organon and Samsung Bioepis’ Hadlima®, Sandoz’s Hyrimoz®, Celltrion’s Yuflyma®, Fresenius Kabi’s Idacio®, Biocon Biologics’ Hulio® and Boehringer Ingelheim’s Cyltezo® are now commercially available in the US.

Each became authorised for supply in the US in July 2023 following their respective settlements with AbbVie. Samsung Bioepis settled with AbbVie on 5 April 2018, Viatris settled on 17 July 2018 (Biocon Biologics acquired Viatris’ global biosimilars business in November 2022), Sandoz settled on 11 October 2018, Fresenius settled on 18 October 2018, Boehringer settled on 14 May 2019, and Coherus settled on 27 November 2019, and Celltrion obtained a licence from AbbVie on 27 April 2022.

AbbVie entered into other deals with biosimilar entrants enabling US market entry, including: Alvotech (market entry on 1 July 2023, which has been delayed by a recent CRL from the FDA), Momenta (market entry on 20 November 2023), and Pfizer (market entry on 20 November 2023).

Celltrion announced that its Yuflyma® (adalimumab) product, a high-concentration formulation and biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira®, has obtained FDA approval.  According to Celltrion, Yuflyma® will be available in the US from July for the key indications of Humira®, including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, and Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

Celltrion’s announcement came only three days after Boehringer Ingelheim announced its Humira® biosimilar Cyltezo® autoinjector pen obtained FDA approval.

The Korea Biomedical Review has reported that Celltrion has explained to shareholders the delay in obtaining US approval for its Humira® adalimumab biosimilar Yuflyma®. Despite obtaining EMA approval in December 2020, Celltrion confirmed that FDA took issue with Celltrion’s overseas and end-product manufacturing plants. Celltrion has rectified the problems and the FDA will complete a final review by May 2023. We have previously reported on Yuflyma®’s progress and approvals including its EU approval in December 2020, in CA on 24 December 2021 and in AU on 28 February 2022.   Celltrion is licensed to supply Yuflyma® in the US from July 2023 pursuant to its settlement with AbbVie.

Korea Biomedical Review reported that Celltrion has obtained approval from South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for a domestically manufactured Yuflyma® (biosimilar adalimumab).

The Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Counsel (PBAC) published the public summary documents from its July 2022 meeting.  Among the updates were:

• Yuflyma® (adalimumab): recommended with ‘a-flagged’ status for the same indications as Humira®.
• Tysabri® (natalizumab): amended listings (removing a requirement for neurologists prescribing natalizumab to be registered with the Tysabri Australian Prescribing Program) recommended by PBAC.
• Epidyolex® (cannabidiol): not recommended for the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, as the incremental cost effectiveness ratio was deemed to be unacceptably high at the price proposed.
• Keytruda® (pembrolizumab): amended listings (increasing the max number of repeats, and maximum number of cycles in a lifetime) recommended by PBAC.
• Stelara® (ustekinumab): vial for IV infusion and PFS recommended for the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. 90mg/1mL PFS recommended for the treatment of Crohn disease and severe chronic plaque psoriasis.

Celltrion announced the commencement of Ph III clinical trials regarding Yuflyma® (biosimilar adalimumab) in Estonia.  This trial will run for 13 months and will be used to support Celltrion’s application for interchangeability in the US.  Yuflyma was approved in the EU in February 2021, and in Canada in December 2021.

Celltrion Healthcare has reportedly filed an IND application to the FDA for a phase III clinical trial to demonstrate the interchangeability of its Yuflyma® (adalimumab) biosimilar and AbbVie’s Humira®.  The trial will involve 366 patients with plaque psoriasis.  Following Celltrion’s aBLA filing in late 2020 and its settlement with AbbVie in Q1 of 2021, Celltrion plans to launch in the US on 1 July 2023.

Hikma Pharmaceuticals announced that it has entered into a commercialisation agreement with Celltrion in relation to Celltrion’s Yuflyma^TM (biosimilar citrate-free adalimumab).  Under the agreement, Hikma will gain exclusive commercialisation rights to Yuflyma^TM in all of its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) markets.  Hikma has launched a number of Celltrion biosimilars: Truxima® (rituximab), Remsima® (infliximab) and Herzuma® (trastuzumab), with the launch of Remsima® SC (subcutaneous infliximab) in progress.

At the PBAC meetings 6 – 8 July, Australia’s PBAC considered a number of applications for biologic and biosimilar products, including:

Celltrion’s Yuflyma® (biosimilar adalimumab): requesting listing under the same conditions as Humira®

Korea Biomedical Review reported that Celltrion has a licence from AbbVie enabling the launch of Yuflyma® (Celltrion’s biosimilar adalimumab) in the US from July 2023.  Celltrion expects to receive approval for Yuflyma® this year.  Celltrion previously announced in February 2021 that it had completed patent settlements in the US and was approaching settlements in Europe.

Celltrion announced the launch of Yuflyma® (high-concentration, low-volume, citrate-free and latex-free biosimilar adalimumab) in Canada.  Yuflyma® is approved in Canada for ten indications: rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, adult Crohn’s disease, adult ulcerative colitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, plaque psoriasis, adult uveitis, and paediatric uveitis.

Australia’s TGA approved Celltrion’s Yuflyma® (biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira® adalimumab) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, enthesitis-related arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis. Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa and uveitis.

Celltrion launched Yuflyma® (high concentration citrate-free biosimilar adalimumab) in Korea.

Health Canada approved Celltrion’s Yuflyma® (100mg/mL biosimilar adalimumab) for all indications as Humira®.

A new study published in Rheumatology reported that the safety and efficacy of Celltrion’s CT-P17 (biosimilar adalimumab) were comparable after one year of treatment, including for patients who switched from reference adalimumab after 24 weeks.

The Korea Herald has reported that Celltrion will launch Yuflyma® in the EU in June.  Citing ‘industry sources’ and a Celltrion official, the article discloses that Celltrion will initially launch Yuflyma® in six EU countries including Spain, before launching in an additional 7 EU countries in Q3 2021, and 3 more in Q4 2021.

The EMA published the EPAR for Celltrion’s Yuflyma®. The EPAR revealed that Celltrion’s product is citrate-free, but is not buffer-free, with other ingredients including ‘acetic acid, sodium acetate trihydrate, glycine, polysorbate 80 and water for injections’.

Celltrion announced it received EC marketing authorisation for Yuflyma® (biosimilar adalimumab) across all indications. This is the first approval of a high concentration, low-volume biosimilar adalimumab. The EPAR is yet to be published by EMA.

Celltrion receives a positive opinion from the EU’s CHMP for its proposed 100mg/mL adalimumab biosimilar Yuflyma® for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, paediatric plaque psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and uveitis. If approved, this will be the first registered high concentration, citrate-free adalimumab biosimilar anywhere in the world.