XBiotech is a privately held biotechnology company that develops antibody therapies for inflammatory diseases. The company is currently carrying out a phase III trial with its proprietary monoclonal antibody Xilonix (MABp1), which is intended to treat various forms of cancer, including lung, colorectal, endocrine, sarcoma, and lymphoma, as well as psoriasis and acne.

The company has not disclosed which biosimilars it will be targeting. However, its press release states that ‘it is launching its biosimilar business with the development of two of the world’s leading therapeutic antibodies, one an oncology product and the other an anti-inflammatory product.’

There are a number of different biosimilar antibodies expected to hit the market beginning in 2014, including biosimilars of Avastin (bevacizumab), Herceptin (trastuzumab), Remicade (infliximab), Rituxan (rituximab), and others. These therapeutics currently represent the majority of revenues from global sales of antibodies, of more than US$40 billion.

XBiotech believes that its manufacturing technology will lower production costs for biological products by an order of magnitude comparable to other biosimilars developers. The company presently operates a total bioreactor capacity of 2,000 L and is in the process of building a commercial-scale plant with 50,000 L total bioreactor capacity. XBiotech uses disposable technology in its manufacturing processes that reduces infrastructure and operating costs compared to existing stainless steel bioreactors.

Mr John Simard, President and CEO of XBiotech, believes that ‘cost competitiveness is going to be crucial to the success of these products’. He added that ‘with our ability to manufacture antibody product[s] at ultra-low costs, our aim is to make XBiotech the most competitive provider of biosimilar products in the world.’

The company aims to start clinical trials with its first biosimilar product by 2014 and to launch its first biosimilar by 2017.

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