Biosimilar pipelines for South Korean firms: LG Chem and GC Pharma

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Biosimilar pipelines for South Korean firms: LG Chem and GC Pharma

Biosimilars/General | Posted 09/07/2021 0 Post your comment

Biosimilar makers from South Korea are making their mark, not only in South Korea, but around the world when it comes to biosimilars. Celltrion Healthcare (Celltrion) and Samsung Bioepis (Samsung and Biogen’s joint venture) are already becoming major players in the world of biosimilars. While, other Korean companies, such as LG Chem Life Sciences (LG Chem) and GC Pharma (formerly Green Cross) are also expanding their biosimilar pipelines.

LG Chem has two biosimilars, one of which, Eucept (etanercept) is already approved in both Japan and South Korea. While LG Pharma has one insulin glargine biosimilar, Glarzia, approved in South Korea, see Table 1.

Table 1: Biosimilar pipelines for South Korean firms: LG Chem and GC Pharma

Company	Product name	Active substance	Therapeutic area	Stage of development
LG Chem	Eucept (LBEC0101)	etanercept	Ankylosing spondylitis Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis Psoriasis Psoriatic arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis	Approved in Japan and South Korea [1]
LG Chem	LR19055	adalimumab	Psoriasis Psoriatic arthritis Juvenile idiopathic arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis Ulcerative colitis	Phase III
GC Pharma	Glargia	insulin glargine	Diabetes	Approved in South Korea [2]

Eucept was the third etanercept biosimilar to be approved in South Korea. Hanwha Chemical received approval for Davictrel back in November 2014 and Samsung Bioepis received approval for Etolace (Brenzys) in September 2015 [3]. While Glargia was the second insulin glargine biosimilar approval in South Korea, after Eli Lilly/Boehringer Ingelheim’s Basaglar, which was approved in November 2015 [3].

LATIN AMERICAN FORUM The brand-new section the ‘Latin American Forum’ on GaBI has been launched. The objective of this new section is to provide you with all the latest news and updates on developments of generic and biosimilar medicines in Latin America in Spanish. View this week’s headline article: Biosimilares en Japón: una perspectiva general Browse the news in the Latin American Forum! Register to receive the GaBI Latin American Forum newsletter. Inform colleagues and friends of this new initiative. LATIN AMERICAN FORUM Se ha lanzado la nueva sección del ‘Foro Latinoamericano’ sobre GaBI. El objetivo de esta nueva sección es brindarle las últimas noticias y actualizaciones sobre desarrollos de medicamentos genéricos y biosimilares en América Latina en español. Vea el artículo principal de esta semana: Biosimilares en Japón: una perspectiva general Explore las noticias en el Foro Latinoamericano! Regístrese para recibir el boletín informativo GaBI Latin American Forum. Informe a colegas y amigos sobre esta nueva iniciativa.

References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars of etanercept [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Jul 9]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-of-etanercept
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars of insulin glargine [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Jul 9]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-of-insulin-glargine
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars approved in South Korea [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Jul 9]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-approved-in-South-Korea

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