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 October 9, 2024, Bio-Thera Solutions and Gedeon Richter announced they have reached an exclusive commercialization and license agreement for BAT2206, a biosimilar candidate to STELARA (ustekinumab). Under the agreement, Bio-Thera will be responsible for development, manufacturing, and supply of BAT2206, and Richter will have exclusive rights to commercialize the…
On October 14, 2024, Accord BioPharma, Inc. announced that the FDA has approved IMULDOSA (ustekinumab-srlf), a biosimilar to Johnson & Johnson’s STELARA (ustekinumab), indicated for the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions, including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. IMULDOSA is Accord BioPharma’s second FDA-approved biosimilar product in the…
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,…
As we have previously reported, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) changed the government’s treatment of certain prescription drugs under the Medicare program by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Drug Price Negotiation Program (“the Program”; see here for a full recap of the Program’s…
Approval of Celltrion’s Ustekinumab Biosimilar in the EU: On August 26, 2024, Celltrion announced that the European Commission (EC) granted approval for STEQEYMA, formerly known as CT-P43, a biosimilar of STELARA (ustekinumab), for the treatment of several chronic inflammatory conditions. STEQEYMA is a human IL-12 and IL-23 antagonist indicated for…
The Committee for Medicine Products for Human Use (“CHMP”) recommended 14 medicines for European Medicines Agency Approval (“EMA”) approval (“marketing authorization”), during its monthly meeting on July 22-25, 2024. Notably, the committee adopted positive opinions for the following 6 biosimilar products: Samsung Bioepis’s EKSUNBI (ustekinumab), Formycon AG’s FYMSKINA (ustekinumab), and Fresenius…
On July 22, 2024, STADA Arzeimittel AG (“STADA”) and Alvotech announced the launch of ustekinumab biosimilar AVT04 under the name UZPROVO® across a majority of European countries. UZPROVO®, the first approved ustekinumab biosimilar to STELARA® in Europe, is indicated for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. As…
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…
On March 18, 2024, Fresenius Kabi (“Fresenius”) and Formycon announced a settlement agreement with Johnson & Johnson regarding FYB202, a proposed ustekinumab biosimilar to STELARA in Europe and Canada. The terms of the settlement are confidential. According to the press release, the settlement agreement aligns with Fresenius’s recent achievements in…