Samsung Bioepis submits second biosimilar to EMA

Generics and biosimilars Initiative

Building trust in cost-effective treatments

Sign up
eng / esp

Samsung Bioepis submits second biosimilar to EMA

Biosimilars/News | Posted 03/04/2015 0 Post your comment

South Korean electronics giant Samsung and biotechnology company Biogen Idec’s joint venture Samsung Bioepis announced on 13 March 2015 that its infliximab biosimilar candidate, SB2, had been accepted for review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

This is the second application for a biosimilar that Samsung Bioepis has submitted to EMA. The company also submitted an application for its etanercept biosimilar candidate, SB4, in January 2015 [1].

Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody against tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). It is used to treat autoimmune diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis.

The originator product, Johnson & Johnson’s Remicade (infliximab), was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in August 1998 and by EMA in August 1999 [2]. Remicade had worldwide sales of US$6.9 billion in 2014, making it one of the world’s best selling medicines and a lucrative target for biosimilars developers.

The Samsung Bioepis biosimilar application is based on results from an extensive head-to-head preclinical data package comparing SB2 to the originator, a head-to-head phase I study in healthy volunteers and a head-to-head phase III equivalence trial in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis. The biosimilar is seeking approval in the same indications as Remicade.

If authorized by EMA, SB2 will be commercialized in Europe by Biogen Idec.

Related article
Biosimilars of infliximab

References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilar etanercept submitted for approval in EU [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2015 Apr 3]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Biosimilar-etanercept-submitted-for-approval-in-EU
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. US$67 billion worth of biosimilar patents expiring before 2020 [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2015 Apr 3]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/US-67-billion-worth-of-biosimilar-patents-expiring-before-2020

Permission granted to reproduce for personal and non-commercial use only. All other reproduction, copy or reprinting of all or part of any ‘Content’ found on this website is strictly prohibited without the prior consent of the publisher. Contact the publisher to obtain permission before redistributing.

Source: Samsung Bioepis