Pearce IP BioBlast w/e 26 Jan 2024

AbbVie announced it will invest US$233M in its biologics manufacturing facility in Singapore.  The investment will add 24,000L of biologics drug-substance capacity to AbbVie’s manufacturing network.  The expansion intends to support current products and emerging immunology and oncology compounds.  Construction will begin later in 2024, with operations expected to commence in 2026.

Regeneron and Sanofi announced that the FDA has approved Dupixent® (dupilumab) to treat paediatric patients aged 1 to 11 years (weighing at least 15 kg) with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).  Dupixent® is the first and only medicine approved in the US to treat these patients.  It was approved to treat EoE patients 12 years and older in May 2022.

On 6 May 2023, a Regeneron-sponsored study concluded that Regeneron/Sanofi’s Dupixent® (dupilumab) improves histologic, symptomatic, and endoscopic aspects of EoE.

Samsung Biologics revealed in its Q4 2024 Earnings that its subsidiary Samsung Bioepis surpassed ₩1T (1 trillion Korean won) annual revenue in 2023 for the first time in the company’s history.  This was due to the 8% growth in revenue from new product launches and sales expansion.

Parent company Samsung Biologics’ operating profit of over ₩1T was also a record high.  On 25 October 2023, Samsung Biologics reported its highest ever quarterly consolidated revenue of over ₩1T.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved Samsung Bioepis’ Onbevzi® (SB8), biosimilar to Genentech’s Avastin® (bevacizumab).  It is indicated to treat colorectal cancer, breast cancer, non-squamous small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), renal cell cancer, glioma, epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer, and carcinoma of the cervix.

Onbevzi® is marketed by Samsung Bioepis as Aybintio® in Europe, which was approved by the European Commission on 20 August 2020.

Marketscreener reported that Bayer’s application for regulatory approval of Eylea® 8mg (aflibercept) to treat neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) has been accepted by the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for review.

On 19 January 2024, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved Bayer’s Eylea® 8mg to treat nAMD and visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DMO).

WuXi XDC and Celltrion announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for development and manufacturing of bioconjugates including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).  Under the agreement, WuXi will be Celltrion’s primary service provider for its projects, including from process development to GMP manufacturing.

On 11 January 2024, WuXi XDC’s parent company WuXi Biologics signed a $20M research service agreement with BioNTech to develop two monoclonal antibody therapeutics.

Outlook Therapeutics announced it received an agreement from the FDA under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for its clinical trial protocol to assess ONS-5010, an ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab.  Outlook expects to commence the trial in Q1 2024, with potential resubmission of its biologics license application (BLA) by the end of 2024.  Outlook has also entered into securities purchase agreements for up to $172M to fund the advancement of ONS-5010.

Outlook submitted its SPA request to the FDA regarding the design of the study on 19 December 2023.

Sandoz announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Coherus Biosciences’ Cimerli®, biosimilar to Genentech’s Lucentis® (ranibizumab), for US$170M.  The deal includes the biologics license application (BLA), product inventory, ophthalmology sales and field reimbursement talent and access to proprietary commercial software.  Closing is anticipated in the first half of 2024, subject to standard conditions and approvals.

Coherus announced its sales of Cimerli® surpassed 100,000 doses in its first year in the US following launch in October 2022.

PulseNews reported that Samsung Bioepis has received approval for Episcli® (SB12), biosimilar to Alexion’s Soliris® (eculizumab), from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.  Episcli® is approved to treat nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

On 3 January 2024 Alexion sued Samsung Bioepis in the US District Court for the District of Delaware asserting infringement of six of its eculizumab patents.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved Amgen’s Wezlana®, the first approved biosimilar to Janssen’s Stelara® (ustekinumab), in Australia.  The vial and pre-filled syringe for subcutaneous injection have been approved to treat plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).  The vial for IV infusion is indicated for CD and UC.

The FDA approved Wezlana® as the first biosimilar to Stelara® on 31 October 2023.