In March 2026, two major biosimilar partnerships were announced: Stada teamed up with CuraTeQ to launch neutropenia biosimilars in Europe, while Samsung Bioepis and Sandoz expanded their collaboration on up to five candidates, including a vedolizumab biosimilar.
Stada & CuraTeQ team up for neutropenia biosimilars
On 30 March 2026, Stada Arzneimittel has entered into a marketing and distribution agreement with CuraTeQ Biologics, a biosimilars subsidiary of Aurobindo Pharma, to bring two neutropenia biosimilars to market in Europe.
Under the terms of the Stada-CuraTeQ partnership, Stada gains rights to market and distribute pegfilgrastim and filgrastim biosimilars, which were developed by CuraTeQ and are already approved in the European Union. CuraTeQ remains responsible for development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and supply.
These biosimilars reference Amgen’s Neupogen (filgrastim) and Neulasta (pegfilgrastim). Filgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Pegfilgrastim is a PEGylated form filgrastim. Both originator products are used to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more neutrophils in patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment [1, 2].
Samsung Bioepis & Sandoz expand biosimilar deal
On 18 March 2026, Samsung Bioepis and Sandoz announced that they have entered into a global license, development and commercialization partnership agreement covering up to five biosimilar candidates.
The first asset under the agreement is SB36, a biosimilar candidate referencing Takeda’s Entyvio (vedolizumab). Vedolizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets the α4β7 integrin (alpha-4-beta-7 integrin), a protein found on gut-homing T helper lymphocytes, reducing gastrointestinal inflammation. The originator, Entyvio, is approved in the US and Europe as a treatment for moderate-to-severe cases of ulcerative colitis , Crohn’s disease, and pouchitis [3].
Under the terms of the agreement, Samsung Bioepis is responsible for development, regulatory registration in key markets, and manufacture of the biosimilars, while Sandoz has exclusive rights to commercialize globally, except in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, and the Republic of Korea.
This partnership builds on the successful global collaboration between the two companies first established in September 2023 for Pyzchiva (ustekinumab), which Sandoz launched in Europe in July 2024 and in the US in February 2025 [4, 5]. In December 2025, the companies also signed an agreement for the commercialization of Epysqli, a biosimilar to eculizumab (Soliris®), for the Middle East and Africa region.
Related articles
Bio-Thera and Stada expand biosimilars alliance to include tocilizumab
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References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars of filgrastim [www.gabionline.net].Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2026 Apr 24]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/Biosimilars-of-filgrastim
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars of pegfilgrastim [www.gabionline.net].Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2026 Apr 24]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/Biosimilars-of-pegfilgrastim
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Topline results for Polpharma Biologics’ vedolizumab biosimilar candidate [www.gabionline.net].Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2026 Apr 24]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/research/topline-results-for-polpharma-biologics-vedolizumab-biosimilar-candidate
4. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. EC biosimilar approvals: Omlyclo, Jubbonti/Wyost, and Pyzchiva [www.gabionline.net].Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2026 Apr 24]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/news/ec-biosimilar-approvals-omlyclo-jubbonti-wyost-and-pyzchiva
5. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. FDA approves third ustekinumab biosimilar Pyzchiva [www.gabionline.net].Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2026 Apr 24]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/news/fda-approves-third-ustekinumab-biosimilar-pyzchiva
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