The joint venture between Canada-based Plantform and Brazilian-based biopharmaceuticals technology platform PharmaPraxis was announced on 20 June 2014. The joint venture will first develop a biosimilar of Roche’s blockbuster cancer drug Avastin (bevacizumab). This will be carried out in collaboration with the US-based Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biology, where the active pharmaceutical ingredient for clinical trials will be produced.

Brazilian government corporation Bio-Manguinhos will also participate in the project and a pilot cGMP biologicals manufacturing facility will be built in Brazil.

PlantForm is already developing a biosimilar version of Roche’s breast cancer drug Herceptin (trastuzumab) [1].

On 26 June 2014, Oncobiologics and Laboratorios Liomont announced a strategic partnership for the development, manufacture and commercialization of biosimilar monoclonal antibody products for the Mexican market.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mexico-based Liomont will provide Oncobiologics with upfront licensing and development milestone payments, as well as royalties once the medicines are commercialized. Oncobiologics will oversee global clinical trials and will provide commercial supply manufacturing for launch in the Mexican market.

Oncobiologics has been busy with biosimilars agreements. The US-based company made deals in 2013 with Viropro and Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical for the development, manufacture and commercialization of several biosimilar monoclonal antibodies [2, 3]. In June 2014, the company also made a two-part alliance for the development, manufacture and commercialization of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies with Indian generics maker IPCA Labs [4].

Related Articles
Alvotech and Finesse enter into biosimilars collaboration

References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilar trastuzumab made in tobacco plants [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Aug 22]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Biosimilar-trastuzumab-made-in-tobacco-plants

2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Oncobiologics and Viropro make biosimilar deal [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Aug 22]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Oncobiologics-and-Viropro-make-biosimilar-deal

3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Huahai and Oncobiologics make biosimilars deal [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Aug 22]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Huahai-and-Oncobiologics-make-biosimilars-deal

4. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Oncobiologics and IPCA create biosimilars alliance [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Aug 22]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Oncobiologics-and-IPCA-create-biosimilars-alliance

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.

Copyright – Unless otherwise stated all contents of this website are © 2014 Pro Pharma Communications International. All Rights Reserved.