As previously reported, litigation between Johnson & Johnson and Janssen (“J&J”) and Samsung Bioepis (“Samsung”) involving Samsung’s Stelara biosimilar, PYZCHIVA (ustekinumab-ttwe) (previously known as SB17), was resolved via a settlement agreement in 2023. Under the terms of the agreement, Samsung received a limited patent license, prohibiting Samsung from sublicensing with…
On March 18, 2026, Sandoz announced a new license, development, and commercialization partnership agreement with Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. Under this agreement, the companies will collaborate on the development and commercialization of up to five biosimilar assets, with the potential for further collaboration. Sandoz will have exclusive global commercialization rights,…
On June 9, 2025, biosimilar manufacturers Samsung Bioepis and Alvotech announced separate deals to expand their respective offerings in Japan and Europe. Samsung Bioepis announced a licensing, development, and commercialization agreement with NIPRO Corporation for multiple biosimilar candidates in Japan. One of these candidates is SB17, a biosimilar of Janssen’s…
On May 21, 2025, Sandoz announced the commercial launch in Europe of its PYZCHIVA® (ustekinumab) autoinjector, “the first ustekinumab biosimilar in Europe commercially available in an autoinjector.” PYZCHIVA®—a biosimilar of Janssen’s STELARA®—is approved for the treatment of adults with plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and pediatric plaque psoriasis for patients six…
As 2025 begins, we would like to reflect on last year’s regulatory developments in the biologics and biosimilars space. Here are some of the top regulatory developments from 2024. 1. FDA Approvals in 2024 There were 17 FDA approvals of Biologic License Applications (“BLAs”), including for Autolus Inc.’s AUCATZYL…
On December 1, 2024, Biocon announced that the FDA has approved YESINTEK™ (ustekinumab-kfce), a biosimilar to J&J’s STELARA®. YESINTEK is approved for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Plaque Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis. According to the announcement, Biocon had entered into a settlement and licensing agreement with Janssen to…
Alvotech recently submitted a Citizen Petition to the FDA requesting that the agency refuse to license any ustekinumab biosimilar as interchangeable with STELARA if it is manufactured using a Chinese hamster ovary (“CHO”) cell line—and in particular Samsung Bioepis’s PYZCHIVA (ustekinumab-ttwe). Alvotech stated that “unless and until the Agency has…
On September 27, 2024, Formycon AG (“Formycon”) and its commercialization partner Fresenius Kabi (“Fresenius”) jointly announced that the European Commission (EC) has issued a marketing authorization for FYB202/OTULFI™ (ustekinumab-aauz), a biosimilar to STELARA®. FYB202/OTULFI™ is an interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 antibody and was approved for moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease,…
Samsung Bioepis’ PYZCHIVA On July 1, Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. announced that the FDA has approved PYZCHIVA (ustekinumab-ttwe), a biosimilar referencing STELARA (ustekinumab). PYZCHIVA is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy, active psoriatic arthritis, moderately to severely active…