Sandoz announced that it has thrown its hat in the ring for another Humira biosimilar. Sandoz filed an European application for approval for GP2017 last year, in the expectation that it will be able to launch soon after the European patent expires in October 2018.
This will be the third application for an adalimumab biosimilar. Versions by Amgen (Amjevita) and Boehringer Ingelheim (Cyltezo) have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); however, patent litigation has held up marketing. Amgen had signed an agreement with Humira’s manufacturer Abbvie to postpone marketing until 2023. Boehringer Ingelheim has not signed a similar agreement, but no indication is yet given regarding the US launch of this product.
It is assumed that European revenues will sustain the biosimilar manufacturers until US marketing begins. This is Sandoz’s fifth FDA biosimilar application. It has received approval for Zarxio (filgrastim) and Erelzi (etanercept); its application for rituximab is under review, and it received a rejection for its version of pegfilgrastim.
