Regeneron announced that its marketing authorisation application (MAA) for linvoseltamab to treat adult patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma (MM), was accepted for review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The MAA is supported by data from a Phase I/II trial (LINKER-MM1) investigating linvoseltamab in R/R MM. Regeneron also submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the FDA in December 2023.
Shanghai Henlius Biotech announced its phase 1 clinical study for its denosumab biosimilar of HLX14, which met the primary endpoint.
Shanghai Henlius Biotech announced commencement of the study in November 2020. Organon announced a deal in June 2022 for exclusive global commercialisation rights to Shanghai Henlius Biotech’s denosumab and pertuzumab.
Merck published its Q4 and full year financial results, reporting Q4 2023 worldwide sales were US$14.6B, a 6% increase from Q4 2022. It also reported a 19% increase in sales of Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) worth US$25B across 2023. Merck explained the Keytruda® sales increase was due to increased global uptake in earlier-stage and metastatic indications.
Merck highlighted that Keytruda® received multiple FDA approvals, including in combination with Padcev®. It also reiterated that the FDA granted Priority Review of Merck and Daiichi Sankyo’s Biologics License Application for patritumab deruxtecan to treat certain patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer.
Korea Biomedical Review reported that Samsung Bioepis and Samil Pharmaceutical will co-market SB15, Samsung’s biosimilar of Regeneron’s Eylea® (aflibercept) in Korea. The agreement intends to utilise Samsung’s R&D capabilities with Samil Pharmaceuticals’ sales and marketing expertise.
On 21 June 2022, Samsung Bioepis and Samil also entered a commercialisation agreement for Amelivu®, a biosimilar to Genentech’s Lucentis® (ranibizumab).
Novo Nordisk announced in its 2023 Annual Report that it has increased sales by 31% to DKK 232.3B in 2023, and increased its operating profit by 37% in Danish Kroner. Key developments outlined in the Report include:
- a 51% net profit increase and 49% increase in share price;
- a total of DKK75B investment in expanding global production sites in 2023;
- 40.5M people accessed Novo Nordisk’s diabetes care products;
- a summary of the SELECT trial which showed cardiovascular benefits of semaglutide, including a 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events compared to a placebo; and
- an update on Novo Nordisk’s pending proposed once-weekly insulin product (Insulin icodec) which has been filed in US, EU and PRC.
Outlook Therapeutics announced that it has dosed the first subject in its clinical trial (NORSE EIGHT) which aims to evaluate the effect of ophthalmic formulation of bevacizumab (ONS-5010), in patients suffering from neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).
On 23 January 2024, Outlook Therapeutics announced that it received approval from FDA under a Special Protocol Assessment for its ONS-5010 clinical trial protocol.
Sandoz announced that it launched biosimilar natalizumab (Tyruko®) in Germany on 31 January 2024 for the treatment of adults with highly active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Tyruko® was developed by Polpharma Biologics and is the first biosimilar to Biogen’s Tysabri® (natalizumab) to be launched in Europe.
The EC approved Sandoz’s Tyruko® in September 2023, and it was approved by the FDA in August 2023.
Johnson & Johnson announced it submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the FDA seeking approval for DARZALEX FASPRO® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) in combination with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone for induction and consolidation treatment, and with lenalidomide for maintenance treatment of adult patients who are newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma (NDMM) and are eligible for autologous stem cell transplant.
In December 2021, Xbrane Biopharma announced it was developing a biosimilar to Darzalex® (daratumumab).
AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo announced that the FDA has accepted its supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Enhertu® (trastuzumab deruxtecan) and has granted Priority Review to treat patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 3+) solid tumours who have received prior treatment or who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options.
On 18 October 2023, the European Commission approved Enhertu® to treat a new indication: monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours have an activating HER2 (ERBB2) mutation and who require systemic therapy following platinum-based chemotherapy with or without immunotherapy.
Alvotech announced positive top-line results for AVT03, its biosimilar to Amgen Inc’s Prolia® and Xgeva® (denosumab). The study (AVT03-GL-P01) was a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group study evaluating the pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of AVT03 compared to Prolia® in healthy adult male subjects 28to 55 years old. The results of the study have not yet been published.
On 7 September 2022, Lupin and partner DKSH announced an exclusive licensing and supply agreement to market Alvotech’s AVT03 and four other Alvotech biosimilar products (golimumab, aflibercept and two undisclosed biosimilars for immunology and oncology) in the Philippines.
Celltrion announced that it has submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) for CT-P47, biosimilar to Genentech’s Actemra® (tocilizumab), to the FDA. Celltrion is seeking approval for CT-P47 in both intravenous and subcutaneous formulations. Biogen received FDA approval for Tofidence®, its biosimilar Actemra® on 30 September 2023. On 1 August 2022 the FDA accepted Fresenius Kabi’s BLA for its tocilizumab biosimilar.
On 14 December 2023, Celltrion revealed that its phase III clinical trial of CT-P47 demonstrated equivalence with Actemra® in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
A study published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases on 25 January 2024 concluded that 130 US patients with inflammatory bowel disease who switched from Janssen’s Remicade® (infliximab) to two different biosimilars were not associated with flares compared to patients who received Remicade® or underwent a single biosimilar switch.
Naomi Pearce
CEO, Executive Lawyer (AU, NZ), Patent & Trade Mark Attorney (AU, NZ)
Naomi is the founder of Pearce IP, and is one of Australia’s leading IP practitioners. Naomi is a market leading, strategic, commercially astute, patent lawyer, patent attorney and trade mark attorney, with over 25 years’ experience, and a background in molecular biology/biochemistry. Ranked in virtually every notable legal directory, highly regarded by peers and clients, with a background in molecular biology, Naomi is renown for her successful and elegant IP/legal strategies.
Among other awards, Naomi is ranked in Chambers, IAM Patent 1000, IAM Strategy 300, is a MIP “Patent Star”, and is recognised as a WIPR Leader for patents and trade marks. Naomi is the 2023 Lawyers Weekly “IP Partner of the Year”, the 2022 Lexology client choice award recipient for Life Sciences, the 2022 Asia Pacific Women in Business Law “Patent Lawyer of the Year” and the 2021 Lawyers Weekly Women in Law SME “Partner of the Year”. Naomi is the founder of Pearce IP, which commenced in 2017 and won 2021 “IP Team of the Year” at the Australian Law Awards.
Sian Hope
Lawyer
Sian is a life sciences focussed intellectual property lawyer with a particular focus on the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare industries. Her practice is primarily in patent litigation, but includes non-contentious patent matters, trade mark matters, health regulatory legal matters and consumer law.