It’s been a busy couple of weeks, and we’re taking this time to catch up on some specific biosimilar product news.
Samsung Bioepis and Teva Launches Their Eculizumab Biosimilar
The biosimilar maker Samsung Bioepis and its marketing partner Teva Pharmaceuticals announced on April 7 that it had launched Epysqli in the United States. This is the second eculizumab biosimilar to be commercialized. Epysqli will be available at a 30% discount to the list price (or wholesale acquisition cost) of the reference product Soliris.
“The availability of Epysqli means that patients now have an additional treatment option available at a lower cost, with the proven quality, safety and efficacy comparable to the reference product. Based on our robust track record supplying biosimilars in the US, we are well-positioned to deliver this life-changing medicine to patients,” said Linda MacDonald, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Commercial Division of Samsung Bioepis.
Tofidence Commercial Rights Sold to Organon
The first tocilizumab biosimilar to reach the market has been acquired by Organon. The Actemra biosimilar was commercialized by Biogen in May 2024. With the purchase of Tofidence (for an undisclosed price), Organon also accepts Biogen’s obligation to pay royalties and sales milestone payments to the original developer, Bio-Thera Solutions.
Biogen’s fiscal year 2024 Tofidence earnings in the US was only $1.1 million, while its global biosimilar sales totaled $793 million. The company’s two US-launched biosimilars (Tofidence and Samsung Bioepis’ Byooviz) accounted for only $24 million in revenues last year.
Biocon Announces Approval of its Bevacizumab Biosimilar Jobevne
A sixth bevacizumab biosimilar has been approved: Jobevne (bevacizumab-nwgd), by Biocon Biologics. This marks the company’s third oncology biosimilar to be approved in the US (in addition to pegfilgrastim and trastuzumab biosimilars), and seventh overall.
Shreehas Tambe, CEO & Managing Director, Biocon Biologics, said: “The US FDA approval of [Jobevne] is a significant milestone—our seventh biosimilar approved in the US and a strong addition to our robust oncology portfolio.”
