News about Coherus Biosciences has been limited since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected its initial application for a pegfilgrastim biosimilar last June. However, at this year’s JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, Coherus issued some positive signs of progress.
According to Dennis Lanfear, Chief Executive Officer, the company is getting ready to resubmit its 351(k) application for pegfilgrastim (CHS-1701). The FDA 
had cited worries about immunogenicity of the agent and specifically with Coherus’ assay to evaluate immunogenicity in its complete response letter, along with potential manufacturing plant problems.
Mr. Lanfear believes that resubmission in the first quarter of this year will yield an FDA decision before the fourth quarter. In addition, Coherus is hoping to receive European Medicines Agency marketing approval prior to this timeframe.
Coherus still has other prospects in the biosimilar arena: Its version of adalimumab is subject to patent litigation (of course), but it should receive a decision on its inter parties review motion regarding its etanercept biosimilar in March of this year.
These would be very hopeful signs after the company’s poor fortunes in 2016 and 2017. It lost its marketing partner in Baxalta (then Shire), and after receiving the FDA rejection on pegfilgrastim last year, it had cut its workforce by 30%.
