On 27 June 2024, Coherus BioSciences announced that is has divested Yusimry (aflibercept-jbvf), an adalimumab biosimilar to AbbVie’s rheumatoid arthritis therapy Humira, to Hong Kong King-Friend Industrial (HKF) in a US$40 million deal.
This divestiture comes as Coherus plans to become an oncology-only focused company. This also follows news that they sold their ophthalmology portfolio, to Sandoz for US$170 million in January 2024 [1]. This included Cimerli (ranibizumab), a biosimilar to Roche’s Lucentis.
Following the deal conclusion, HKF’s US subsidiary, Meitheal Pharmaceuticals will have exclusive commercial rights to Yusimry in the US. Meitheal plans to develop paediatric presentations and a high concentration (100 mg/mL) formulation of Yusimry.
This is not the first acquisition for Meithreal, in September 2023, the subsidiary acquired the US rights to three insulin biosimilars from China-based Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical [2]. The US approval for these three biosimilars is expected in 2026.
Yusimry (aflibercept-jbvf), was approved in December 2021 [3] and is one of a number of adalimumab biosimilars approved in the US, following the Humira patent expiry in 2028 [4].
Adalimumab is a human monoclonal antibody that treats autoimmune diseases by inhibiting tumour necrosis factor (TNF); a soluble inflammatory cytokine. Adalimumab binds to TNF-alpha (TNF-α), preventing it from activating TNF receptors, which cause the inflammatory reactions associated with autoimmune diseases. Adalimumab is indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid, juvenile idiopathic and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, and ulcerative colitis [5].
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References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Sandoz US acquisition of ranibizumab biosimilar from Coherus [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2024 Jul 16]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/pharma-news/sandoz-us-acquisition-of-ranibizumab-biosimilar-from-coherus
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Insulin biosimilars: new CRL for Biocon, new deal for Meitheal/Tonghua Dongbao [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2024 Jul 16]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/pharma-news/insulin-biosimilars-new-crl-for-biocon-new-deal-for-meitheal-tonghua-dongbao
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. FDA approves interchangeable adalimumab biosimilar Simlandi [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2024 Jul 16]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/news/fda-approves-interchangeable-adalimumab-biosimilar-simlandi
4. Derbyshire M. Patent expiry dates for biologicals: 2018 update. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal (GaBI Journal). 2019;8(1):24-31. doi:10.5639/gabij.2019.0801.003
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars of adalimumab [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2024 Jul 16]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/biosimilars-of-adalimumab
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