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Biosimilars Deals 2021

Explore our interactive biosimilar news updates, collating tailored reports by brand, INN, originator/biosimilar applicant, litigation, region, or date. Alternatively, review our weekly BioBlast updates below.

Pearce IP BioBlast® for the week ending 4 July 2025

Pearce IP provides weekly reports on global biosimilars activities in the Pearce IP BioBlast®.  Significant biosimilar activities for the week ending 4 July 2025 are set out below:


Aflibercept

2 July 2025 | CA | Approval Alert: Apotex and Sam Chun Dang Announce Canadian Approval of Biosimilar Aflibercept

On 2 July 2025, Apotex announced that Aflivu™, biosimilar to Regeneron/Bayer’s Eylea® (aflibercept, 2mg), has been approved by Health Canada in pre-filled syringe and vial formats.  Aflivu™ is… Read more here.


Certolizumab Pegol

1 July 2025 | EU | Alvotech and Advanz Enter EU Partnership for Certolizumab Pegol Biosimilar

On 1 July 2025, Alvotech and Advanz Pharma announced that the companies have entered into a European supply and commercialisation agreement for AVT10, Alvotech’s biosimilar to UCB’s… Read more here.


Daratumumab

4 July 2025 | KR | Korea Approves Phase 3 Trial for Celltrion’s Biosimilar Daratumumab

On 4 July 2025, The Bio reported that Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has approved Celltrion’s Phase 3 clinical trial plan (IND) for CT-P44, biosimilar to Johnson & Johnson’s Darzalex®… Read more here.


Denosumab

3 July 2025 | EU | Approval Alert: European Commission Approves Denosumab Biosimilars of Richter, mAbxience and Biocon

Over the last week, the European Commission (EC) has approved denosumab biosimilars for three sponsors… Read more here.

1 July 2025 | KR | Samsung Bioepis Launches Denosumab Biosimilar in Korea and Strikes Licensing Deal with Boryung

On 1 July 2025, Samsung Bioepis and Hanmi Pharmaceutical announced that they have jointly launched Obodence™, biosimilar to Amgen’s Prolia® (denosumab), in South Korea, at a 13% cost… Read more here.

1 July 2025 | US | Fresenius Kabi Second to Launch US Biosimilar Denosumab

On 1 July 2025, Fresenius Kabi announced the US launch of Conexxence® and Bomyntra®, biosimilars to Amgen’s Prolia® and Xgeva® (denosumab), respectively.  Fresenius’ denosumab biosimilars are… Read more here.

30 June 2025 | US | Amgen Expands US BPCIA Denosumab Litigation to include Biocon

On 30 June 2025, Amgen filed BPCIA litigation against Biocon in the in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Eastern Division, asserting infringement of 34 US patents covering… Read more here.


Pertuzumab

28 June 2025 | CN | Study Demonstrates Biosimilarity of Beijing SL’s KM118 (Pertuzumab) with Roche’s Perjeta®

The results of a phase I study published in Annals of Medicine is said to have established biosimilarity between Beijing SL Pharmaceuticals’ pertuzumab biosimilar, KM118, and the reference product… Read more here.


Ranibizumab

1 July 2025 | AFRICA | Bioeq AG and Bio Usawa Partner to Commercialise Ranibizumab Biosimilar in Africa

On July 1 2025, Formycon announced that Bioeq AG, which holds the exclusive worldwide commercialisation rights for Formycon’s biosimilar to Genentech’s Lucentis® (ranibizumab)… Read more here.


Ustekinumab

1 July 2025 | JP | Celltrion to Launch Biosimilar Ustekinumab in Japan

On 1 July 2025, Pharma Japan reported that Celltrion will lauch Stegeyma® (CT-P43), biosimilar to J&J/Janssen’s Stelara® (ustekinumab), in Japan on 8 July 2025… Read more here.


Biosimilar Manufacturing

1 July 2025 | Sandoz to Expand EU Biosimilar Production with Slovenian Manufacturing Facility

On 1 July 2025, Sandoz announced that it has commenced construction of a new biosimilar production centre in Brnik, Slovenia, due to open in 2028.  Sandoz is investing USD 440 million in the… Read more here.


Biosimilar Tendering

2 July 2025 | ES | Spain Issues €411M Tender for Biosimilar Medicines Supply

On 2 July 2025, Navlin Daily reported that the Spanish Ministry of Health issued a tender for the sustainable supply of biologics and biosimilars under a two-year Framework Agreement worth … Read more here.

 

About Pearce IP

Pearce IP is a boutique firm offering intellectual property specialist lawyers, patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys to the life sciences industries (in particular, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, biotech, ag-tech and food tech).  Pearce IP is the 2021 ‘Intellectual Property Team of the Year’ (Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards) and was shortlisted for the same award in 2022.  Pearce IP is ranked in IAM Patent 1000 and Managing IP (MIP) IP Stars, in Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards as a ‘5 Star’ firm, and the Legal 500 APAC Guide for Intellectual Property.

Our leaders have been recognised in virtually every notable IP listing for their legal, patent and trade mark excellence including: IAM Patent 1000, IAM Strategy 300, MIP IP Stars, Doyles Guide, WIPR Leaders, 5 Star IP Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards, and have been honoured with many awards including Australian Law Awards – IP Partner of the Year, Women in Law Awards – Partner of the Year, Women in Business Law Awards - Patent Lawyer of the Year (Asia Pacific), Most Influential Lawyers (Changemaker), among other awards.

 

Naomi Pearce

Naomi Pearce

CEO, Executive Lawyer (AU, NZ), Patent Attorney (AU, NZ) & Trade Mark Attorney (AU)

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.

Chantal Savage

Chantal Savage

Special Counsel, Lawyer

Chantal is an intellectual property disputes lawyer with experience advising across the spectrum of IP rights, including patents, trade marks, copyright, plant breeder’s rights and trade secrets/confidential information. Recognised as a Rising Star in IP by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2021-2024), Chantal has previously worked for international and top tier law firms in Australia and the United Kingdom and now at Pearce IP.

With a science degree specialising in molecular biology and biochemistry, Chantal’s practice focuses particularly on complex, high-value, multi-jurisdictional patent infringement and revocation proceedings for clients in the life sciences sectors.

Nathan Kan

Nathan Kan

Lawyer

Nathan is a lawyer focused on providing legal services and advice to life sciences clients, with a focus on litigation support regarding intellectual property (patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, domain names, plant breeders rights and confidential information) and commercial disputes.

Nathan is passionate about the intersection of law and science.  Whilst serving as Sponsorship Director and subsequently as Vice President of the Science and Technology Law Association (SATLA) at the University of Melbourne, he led various engagement events, workshops and publications covering a range of STEM fields, including life sciences, artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

 

Korea Approves Phase 3 Trial for Celltrion’s Biosimilar Daratumumab

On 4 July 2025, The Bio reported that Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has approved Celltrion’s Phase 3 clinical trial plan (IND) for CT-P44, biosimilar to Johnson & Johnson’s Darzalex® (daratumumab).  The trial will evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of Darzalex® and CT-P44 over a two-year period in 486 patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

In December 2024, Celltrion announced that the US FDA approved its IND application for a global Phase 3 clinical trial of CT-P44, which followed its European IND submission and entry into the global Phase 3 trial in November 2024.

Shanghai Henlius has a daratumumab biosimilar in development, announcing in February 2025 that it entered into a licence agreement with Dr. Reddy’s for HLX15.  In June 2024, Henlius announced the completion of Phase 1 clinical trials of HLX15, demonstrating that HLX15 has similar pharmacokinetic characteristics, and comparable safety and immunogenicity profiles to Darzalex®.

Extended Release, Expeditious Rejection: Federal Court Invalidates Sun Pharma’s Aripiprazole PTE

 

Date of decision: 5 February 2025
Body:  Federal Court of Australia
Adjudicator: Justice Downes

Background

On 5 February 2025, Justice Downes of the Federal Court of Australia delivered her decision in the dispute between Otsuka Japan and its licensees (Lundbeck A/S and Australia and Otsuka Australia) (collectively referred to as Otsuka) and Sun Pharma ANZ Pty Ltd (Sun Pharma).

The dispute related to Otsuka Japan’s Australian Patent No. 2004285448, entitled “Controlled release sterile injectable aripiprazole formulation and method” (the Patent).  The Patent described and claimed controlled release formulations which contain aripiprazole as the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).  Aripiprazole molecules bind to receptors (primarily D2 receptors) in the brain, which is useful in treating schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder.

Sun Pharma commenced proceedings against Otsuka seeking to “clear the way” ahead of their Australian launch on 1 April 2025 of their generic version of the ABILIFY MAINTENA (400 mg) powder and solvent for injection.

Key Issues

The key issues in dispute were:

(i) Whether the Patent’s patent term extension (PTE) had been wrongly granted and should be removed.  Otsuka argued that the PTE was valid, relying on eight claims of the Patent (known as the PTE Claims) and two products listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods which consisted of kits which included aripiprazole powder and solvent for prolonged release suspension for injection vial or pre-filled syringe (the ARTG Goods); and

(ii) Whether the PTE Claims were invalid for failure to comply with ss 40(2)(b) and 40(3) of the Patents Act 1990 (Cth) (the Act).  Sections 40(2)(b) and 40(3) respectively require that a complete specification must end with claims defining the invention; and that the claims must be clear and succinct and supported by matter disclosed in the specification.

Sun Pharma did not contest Otsuka’s cross-claim for threatened infringement arising from Sun Pharma’s proposed generic product, so that the proceeding could be heard and determined expeditiously.  Sun Pharma adopted this position on the basis that it was made without prejudice to Sun Pharma’s position on the proper construction of each of the claims, and in circumstances where it maintained its position concerning the invalidity of the PTE Claims and the PTE.

Her Honour ultimately found in Sun Pharma’s favour holding that the PTE Claims and PTE were invalid, and that the cross-claim should be dismissed.

Scope of the Australian PTE Regime

In Australia, section 70 of the Act sets out specific conditions which must be met to obtain a PTE for a pharmaceutical patent, including that:

  • one or more pharmaceutical substances per se must in substance be disclosed in the complete specification of the patent and in substance fall within the scope of the claim(s) of that specification; and
  • goods containing, or consisting of, the substance must be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.

Her Honour held that the following principles emerged from the authorities for the purposes of identifying a claim for a pharmaceutical substance per se:

(1) only a claim for a pharmaceutical substance as such or alone is eligible for a PTE; and

(2) claims for the following inventions are not eligible for a PTE:

(a) a pharmaceutical substance which forms part of a method or process;

(b) an existing pharmaceutical substance prepared by a new and inventive process;

(c) a pharmaceutical substance when produced by a particular process (a product by process claim); and

(d) a new and inventive method of using an existing pharmaceutical substance (such as in a new method of treatment).

Her Honour also held that:

(i) The expression “in substance fall within the scope of the claim[s]” required that the pharmaceutical substance per se must take all of the essential integers of the claim.  Her Honour considered that to hold otherwise would result in an impermissible broadening of the patent monopoly during the extended term; and

(ii) Following Justice Perram’s decision in Cipla Australia Pty Ltd v Novo Nordisk A/S [2024] FCA 1414 (Cipla v Novo Nordisk), “pharmaceutical substance” included formulations.  Her Honour went on to state that, once one accepted that a pharmaceutical substance included a formulation, it necessarily followed that the focus was on whether that formulation (as a whole) was for therapeutic use and whether that formulation (as a whole) was one whose application involves one of the actions or interactions in (a) or (b) of the statutory definition of “pharmaceutical substance”, namely: (a) a chemical interaction, or physico-chemical interaction, with a human physiological system; or (b) action on an infectious agent, or on a toxin or other poison, in a human body.  There was nothing in the text of the statutory definition which required one to also analyse whether, and be satisfied that, each constituent part of the formulation satisfies both of those requirements before the formulation itself can be found to be a pharmaceutical substance.

Otsuka’s and Sun Pharma’s Arguments

Otsuka argued that the PTE was valid, relying on the PTE Claims and ten asserted pharmaceutical substances per se.

The PTE Claims fell into two categories: (i) those involving controlled release liquid (i.e. ready to use) injectable formulations (Controlled Release Injectable Formulation Claims); and (ii) those involving freeze-dried (i.e. lyophilised) controlled release formulations (Freeze-dried Controlled Release Formulation Claims).

An example of the Controlled Release Injectable Formulation Claims was Claim 1, which claimed:

A controlled release sterile aripiprazole injectable formulation which upon injection releases aripiprazole over a period of at least one week, which comprises:

(a)    aripiprazole having a mean particle size of about 1 to 10 microns,

(b)    a vehicle therefor, and

(c)    water for injection.

An example of the Freeze-dried Controlled Release Formulation Claims was Claim 16, which claimed:

A sterile freeze-dried controlled release aripiprazole formulation which comprises:

(a)    aripiprazole having a mean particle size of about 1 to 10 microns, and

(b)    a vehicle therefor,

which formulation upon constitution with water forms a sterile injectable formulation which upon injection releases aripiprazole over a period of at least about two weeks.

The ten pharmaceutical substances per se were as follows:

(I) a controlled release sterile aripiprazole injectable formulation, comprising aripiprazole having a mean particle size of about 1 to 10 microns or alternatively about 2 to about 4 microns;

(II) further or in the alternative, (I) above, wherein the aripiprazole is in the form of a monohydrate or alternatively Aripiprazole Hydrate A;

(III) further or in the alternative, (I) or (II) above, also comprising sodium carmellose (carboxymethyl cellulose), mannitol, monobasic monohydrate sodium phosphate and sodium hydroxide;

(IV) further or in the alternative, (III) above, also comprising water for injection;

(V) further or in the alternative, (IV) above, which upon injection releases aripiprazole over at least about one week;

(VI) a sterile lyophilised/freeze-dried aripiprazole formulation comprising aripiprazole having a mean particle size of about 1 to 10 microns or alternatively within the range from about 2 to about 4 microns;

(VII) further or in the alternative, (VI) above, wherein the aripiprazole is in the form of a monohydrate or alternatively Aripiprazole Hydrate A;

(VIII) further or in the alternative, (VI) or (VII) above, also comprising sodium carmellose (carboxymethyl cellulose), mannitol, monobasic monohydrate sodium phosphate and sodium hydroxide;

(IX) further or in the alternative to (VIII) above, which upon constitution with water forms a sterile injectable formulation;

(X) further or in the alternative to (IX) above, which upon injection releases aripiprazole over a period of at least about two weeks.

Sun Pharma argued that the PTE was invalid because none of the asserted pharmaceutical substances per se, nor the PTE Claims on which they were based, met the Act’s section 70 requirements.  Sun Pharma put forward the following eight arguments in support of its position:

(1) The Freeze-dried Controlled Release Formulations did not meet the definition of “pharmaceutical substance”.

(2) If the Controlled Release Injectable Formulations were capable of being a “pharmaceutical substance” (which was denied), the ARTG Goods did not contain or consist of such substance, because the ARTG Goods comprised a freeze-dried powder in a vial.

(3) If the PTE Claims claimed anything other than the active ingredient aripiprazole simpliciter, such claims were not claims to a “pharmaceutical substance”, as the definition of “pharmaceutical substance” (properly construed) was confined to active ingredients and did not include formulations with excipients.

(4) If the Court determined that the definition of “pharmaceutical substance” did include formulations, neither the Freeze-dried Controlled Release Formulations nor the Controlled Release Injectable Formulations qualified, because the excipients within those formulations were not for a “therapeutic use” as defined and/or do not have an application (or one of whose applications) which involved a chemical interaction, or physico-chemical interaction, with a human physiological system.

(5) The majority of the asserted pharmaceutical substances per se impermissibly did not take all of the integers of the PTE Claims, and thus could not be relied upon for the purposes of section 70 of the Act.

(6) When regard was had to all of the integers of the PTE Claims, they included process features and/or features which limited the use of the formulations, contrary to Full Court authority.

(7) Contrary to s 70(3) of the Act, the ARTG Goods did not include each feature of the PTE Claims, in particular that they did not include the feature which required that “upon injection [the product] releases aripiprazole over a period of [a specified time]”.

(8) Each of the PTE Claims were invalid and should be revoked for lack of clarity and/or lack of definition pursuant to s 40(3) and/or s 40(2)(b) of the Act.

PTE Validity

Ultimately, Sun Pharma succeeded in invalidating the PTE on the basis that the majority of the asserted pharmaceutical substances per se (namely pharmaceutical substances (I) to (IV) and (VI) to (IX)) did not “fall within the scope of” any of the PTE Claims because they only took part of the PTE Claims.  As stated above, Justice Downes held that a pharmaceutical substance must take all of the integers of a claim to “fall within the scope” of the claim.

Her Honour rejected Sun Pharma’s remaining challenges to the PTE as follows:

(1) That the Freeze-dried Controlled Release Formulations did not meet the definition of “pharmaceutical substance” on the basis that such formulations were not (themselves) “applied” so as to “involve a chemical interaction, or physico-chemical interaction, with a human physiological system” because they needed first to be reconstituted with water to form injectable (liquid) formulations before those formulations (i.e. different substances) were “applied” so as to “involve a chemical interaction, or physico-chemical interaction, with a human physiological system”.  Her Honour rejected this contention on two bases:

(i) “Application” referred to the use to which the substance was put, and generally its purpose, not its physical application.  In this case, the “application” was the treatment of schizophrenia and related disorders.

(ii) The Federal Court had previously recognised that the pharmaceutical substance per se claimed in a patent “may not have the necessary therapeutic use or enable the required physico-chemical interaction unless formulated”.  The need to reconstitute a freeze-dried formulation was analogous to the need to formulate if the pharmaceutical substance per se was a single chemical compound.

(2) That the Controlled Release Injectable Formulations registered on the ARTG were not goods containing, or consisting of, the pharmaceutical substance which was in substance disclosed in the complete specification of the patent and in substance fell within the scope of the claims of that specification.  Sun Pharma argued that the Controlled Release Injectable Formulations registered on the ARTG consisted of a freeze-dried powder in a vial together with a separate vial containing the water for injection.  It therefore submitted that the Controlled Release Injectable Formulations registered on the ARTG did not contain or consist of the same pharmaceutical substance which was in substance disclosed in the complete specification of the patent and in substance fell within the scope of the claim or claims of that specification, being injectable formulations.

Justice Downes rejected this argument, stating that the correct approach required a simple comparison of the pharmaceutical substance identified which was in substance disclosed in the complete specification of the patent and in substance fell within the scope of the claim or claims of that specification, with the ingredients of the goods on the ARTG.  If the pharmaceutical substance was an ingredient, “[n]o further interrogation of the ARTG is necessary”.

(3) That pharmaceutical substances did not include formulations or did not include formulations which had excipients with no therapeutic application.  Her Honour rejected both arguments given her finding that, following Justice Perram’s decision in Cipla v Novo Nordisk, “pharmaceutical substance” included formulations.

(4) That the PTE claims were not to pharmaceutical substances per se because the claims included process features and/or limitations by result as follows:

(i) “controlled release”; “injectable formulation”; and/or “which upon injection releases aripiprazole over a period of [a specified period of time]”; and

(ii) “freeze-dried controlled release”; “which [freeze-dried] formulation upon constitution with water forms a sterile injectable formulation”; and/or “which [injectable formulation] upon injection releases aripiprazole over a period of [a specified period of time]”.

Justice Downes considered that the PTE Claims referred only incidentally to methods of process, so as to better describe the new and inventive substance, being the claimed injectable or freeze-dried formulations.  Her Honour also noted that Sun Pharma had not identified any authority supporting its submission that a claim which contains a limitation by result could not be a pharmaceutical substance per se.  On this point, her Honour noted that, in Spirit Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd v Mundipharma Pty Ltd (2013) 216 FCR 344; [2013] FCA 658, the argument that certain claims were limited by result did not prevent a finding by Justice Rares that the formulation was a pharmaceutical substance per se.

(5) That the ARTG Goods did not take each feature of the PTE Claims, in particular that they did not take the feature which required that “upon injection [the product] releases aripiprazole over a period of [a specified time]”.  Her Honour rejected this argument in light of the expert witness’ views to the contrary in the joint expert report.

PTE Claims Validity

Sun Pharma argued that the PTE Claims were invalid for failure to comply with:

  • section 40(2)(b) which requires that a complete specification must end with claims defining the invention; and
  • section 40(3) which requires that the claims must be clear and succinct and supported by matter disclosed in the specification.

The validity challenge centred on the feature in each of the PTE Claims that “upon injection [the product] releases aripiprazole over a period of [a specified time]”.  Sun Pharma argued that the person skilled in the art would not be able to determine whether or not all aripiprazole formulations (i.e. all embodiments) that otherwise met the requirements of the PTE Claims would fall within or outside this feature based upon the information in the Patent and the common general knowledge (with or without routine experimentation).

Consideration of Sun Pharma’s validity challenge required her Honour to answer two questions:

(1) whether (as Sun Pharma submitted) the PTE Claims contained limitations by result, or whether (as Otsuka submitted) the specification taught that this feature was an inherent property of formulations prepared according to the invention; and

(2) whether the PTE Claims satisfied section 40(3) and/or s 40(2)(b) of the Act.

Her Honour held that:

(1) The PTE Claims were claims limited by reference to result with the implication that the conditions of the manufacture of the formulations could be adjusted to secure the specified result, being the feature in each of the PTE Claims that “upon injection [the product] releases aripiprazole over a period of [a specified time]”.  Her Honour reached this conclusion in light of the evidence which showed that there was a range of factors which would affect the release of the aripiprazole, including particle size.  As choices had to be made concerning these factors in order to achieve the minimum release period which was stated in the PTE Claims, it could not be concluded that all of the formulations which otherwise met each of the PTE Claims would release for more than one or two weeks.

(2) The Patent did not show the person skilled in the art how to determine whether or not each formulation that otherwise satisfied any of the PTE Claims fell inside or outside the release boundary. The Patent was silent as to how the person skilled in the art could extrapolate from the blood plasma concentration data disclosed in the Patent to a determination of the release of aripiprazole from the depot.  As the person skilled in the art was not given that information, they would not be able to use that information to enable them to determine whether all formulations which otherwise fell within any of the PTE Claims took this feature.

Further, even if the person skilled in the art was able to use blood plasma concentrations as an indirect means to identify whether a given formulation that otherwise meets the PTE Claims fell within the release boundaries, experiments would need to be performed.  Those experiments would be onerous, time-consuming, and would provide variable and unreliable results such that the person performing the experiments would be left in doubt as to whether any given formulation fell within the scope of the PTE Claims.

As a result, the PTE Claims were invalid because they failed to define the invention and lacked clarity, as required by sections 40(2)(b) and 40(3) of the Act.

Outcome and Implications

So, her Honour ultimately found in Sun Pharma’s favour holding that the PTE Claims and PTE were invalid.  This meant that the cross-claim was also dismissed.

Justice Downes’ decision is highly relevant for many reasons.  In particular, her Honour’s decision provides invaluable guidance on the scope of the Australian PTE regime; and on the circumstances in which patent claims will fail for lack of definition and lack of clarity.

Otsuka appealed her Honour’s decision, which was heard by the Full Court on 20 and 21 May 2025.  So, stay tuned for the appeal court’s judgment!

 

About Pearce IP

Pearce IP is a boutique firm offering intellectual property specialist lawyers, patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys to the life sciences industries (in particular, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, biotech, ag-tech and food tech).  Pearce IP is the 2021 ‘Intellectual Property Team of the Year’ (Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards) and was shortlisted for the same award in 2022.  Pearce IP is ranked in IAM Patent 1000 and Managing IP (MIP) IP Stars, in Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards as a ‘5 Star’ firm, and the Legal 500 APAC Guide for Intellectual Property.

Our leaders have been recognised in virtually every notable IP listing for their legal, patent and trade mark excellence including: IAM Patent 1000, IAM Strategy 300, MIP IP Stars, Doyles Guide, WIPR Leaders, 5 Star IP Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards, and have been honoured with many awards including Australian Law Awards – IP Partner of the Year, Women in Law Awards – Partner of the Year, Women in Business Law Awards - Patent Lawyer of the Year (Asia Pacific), Most Influential Lawyers (Changemaker), among other awards.

 

Naomi Pearce

Naomi Pearce

CEO, Executive Lawyer (AU, NZ), Patent Attorney (AU, NZ) & Trade Mark Attorney (AU)

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.

Helen Macpherson

Helen Macpherson

Executive, Lawyer (Head of Litigation –Australia)

Helen has over 25 years’ experience as an intellectual property specialist and is recognised as an industry leader. Helen advises on all forms of intellectual property including patents, plant breeder’s rights, trade marks, copyright and confidential information.

Throughout her career, Helen has maintained a strong focus on high-value patent mandates involving complex technologies. In these mandates, Helen has been able to draw upon her technical training in biochemistry and molecular biology, as well as her ability to up-skill swiftly in relation to diverse technologies. Helen’s patent work has encompassed the technical fields of inorganic, organic, physical and process chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology (including genetics, molecular biology and virology) and physics.

Helen is a member of the Intellectual Property Committee of the Law Council of Australia, as well as a member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Nathan Kan

Nathan Kan

Lawyer

Nathan is a lawyer focused on providing legal services and advice to life sciences clients, with a focus on litigation support regarding intellectual property (patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, domain names, plant breeders rights and confidential information) and commercial disputes.

Nathan is passionate about the intersection of law and science.  Whilst serving as Sponsorship Director and subsequently as Vice President of the Science and Technology Law Association (SATLA) at the University of Melbourne, he led various engagement events, workshops and publications covering a range of STEM fields, including life sciences, artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

 

Approval Alert: European Commission Approves Denosumab Biosimilars of Richter, mAbxience and Biocon

Over the last week, the European Commission (EC) has approved denosumab biosimilars for three sponsors:

The biosimilars all received positive CHMP opinions in April 2025.

Richter’s and Biocon’s denosumab biosimilars are approved for the same indications as Amgen’s Prolia® and Xgeva®, respectively.  mAbxience’s Izamby® is approved for one of Prolia®’s indications (treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men at increased risk of fractures), while the indications for Denbrayce® mirror those of Xgeva®.

There are now 6 sponsors with denosumab biosimilars approved in Europe, with previous approvals for Celltrion’s Stoboclo® and Osenvelt® (February 2025), Samsung Bioepis’ Obodence™ and Xbryk™ (February 2025), and Sandoz’s Wyost® and Jubbonti® (May 2024).  Accord Healthcare’s Jubereq® and Osvyrti® received CHMP positive opinions in March 2025 and the EMA has accepted denosumab biosimilar MAAs including for STADA/Alvotech (AVT03, October 2024), Teva (TVB-009P, October 2024), Fresenius Kabi (FKS518, July 2024), and Shanghai Henlius/Organon (HLX14, May 2024).

Approval Alert: CuraTeq Biologics’ Biosimilar Trastuzumab EU Approved

On 2 July 2025, The Economic Times reported that Aurobindo Pharma’s wholly owned subsidiary, CuraTeq Biologics, has received marketing approval from the European Commission for Dazublys®, biosimilar to Roche/Genentech’s Herceptin® (trastuzumab).  The authorisation follows the positive opinion adopted by the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of Dazublys® for the treatment of HER2-positive breast or gastric cancers.

Samsung Bioepis’ Ontruzant® was the first trastuzumab biosimilar to be approved in the EU (November 2017), while Mylan/Biocon’s Ogivri® was the first to be approved in the US (December 2017).

Nora Pharma Launches Pegfilgrastim Biosimilar in Canada

On 2 July 2025, Sunshine Biopharma announced that its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, Nora Pharma, has launched Niopeg®, biosimilar to Amgen’s Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) in Canada.  Niopeg® was approved by Health Canada in April 2024 in pre-filled syringe of 6mg/0.6 ml.

The first pegfilgrastim biosimilar approved in Canada was Apotex’s Lapegla® in June 2018.  Shortly after, Mylan/Biocon’s Fulphila® (pegfilgrastim) was approved in the US (June 2018) and Accord Healthcare’s Pelgraz (pegfilgrastim) was approved in the EU (September 2018).

Spain Issues €411M Tender for Biosimilar Medicines Supply

On 2 July 2025, Navlin Daily reported that the Spanish Ministry of Health issued a tender for the sustainable supply of biologics and biosimilars under a two-year Framework Agreement worth €411 million coordinated by the Instituto Nacional de Gestión Sanitaria (INGESA).

According to the report, this second-phase agreement builds upon the initial framework launched in late 2022, which generated over €120 million in cost savings to date.  The new agreement is expected to deliver an additional €178 million in savings and will comprise 17 therapeutic categories covering biologics that have approved biosimilars.  The Framework Agreement includes the following biologics, among others: adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, rituximab, trastuzumab, pegfilgrastim, bevacizumab, tocilizumab, natalizumab, eculizumab, ranibizumab and ustekinumab.

INGESA will select between 25 and 50 suppliers using an open procedure, with contracts awarded based on 70% price and 30% quality weighting.

Approval Alert: Apotex and Sam Chun Dang Announce Canadian Approval of Biosimilar Aflibercept

On 2 July 2025, Apotex announced that Aflivu™, biosimilar to Regeneron/Bayer’s Eylea® (aflibercept, 2mg), has been approved by Health Canada in pre-filled syringe and vial formats.  Aflivu™ is indicated for the treatment of nAMD, macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion, diabetic macular oedema and myopic choroidal neovascularisation.

In August 2023, it was reported that Sam Chun Dang Pharm licensed its aflibercept biosimilar, SCD411, to Apotex for Canada.  Apotex’s announcement regarding the approval of Aflivu™ does not indicate whether this is the Sam Chun Dang developed biosimilar.  However, Sam Chun Dang announced on 2 July 2025 that SCD411 received product approval from the Canadian Ministry of Health on 26 June 2025 and that sales will commence in July 2025.

The announcements from Apotex and Sam Chun Dang follow closely behind the June approval of Biocon’s Yesafili™, which was reported to be the first aflibercept biosimilar approved in Canada.  Yesafili™ was due to be launched in Canada on 4 July 2025, as a result of a March 2024 settlement between Biocon and Regeneron/Bayer.

The only aflibercept biosimilar currently available in the US is Amgen’s Pavblu™, which launched in October 2024 after the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s denial of Regeneron’s application for an injunction in relation to the biosimilar.  Regeneron has since commenced new BPCIA litigation against Amgen for Pavblu™ (in June 2025).

While there are a number of aflibercept biosimilars approved in Europe, there have been no announcements to date that any of them have launched, although Sandoz has indicated that the European launch of its biosimilar, Afqlir® (EU-approved in November 2024), is expected in Q4 2025.  In Australia, Regeneron and Bayer have commenced court proceedings against Sandoz, seeking to prevent the Australian launch of Afqlir®, scheduled for December 2025.

THE HIGH COURT COMMERCIAL LIST – A new, faster route to judgment for patent litigation in New Zealand

A new development in New Zealand will provide an option for a faster route to judgment in patent and other intellectual property litigation.  From 1 October 2025, a Commercial List will operate at the Auckland registry of the High Court of New Zealand in which cases will be case-managed and heard by appointed Commercial List judges. The stated aim of the Commercial List is to:

achieve better efficiencies and quicker hearing times, based on the parties, counsel and commercially experienced Commercial List Judges working together to ensure matters are agreed wherever possible, and disputed interlocutory and substantive issues are dealt with in a focused and expeditious manner.”

The High Court of New Zealand has jurisdiction over first instance patent infringement and revocation actions (the latter concurrently with the Patent Office).  It also hears appeals from Patent Office hearings.  The Auckland registry is by far the busiest and most commonly used registry for commercial litigation in New Zealand, including IP matters.  Currently, IP cases are all handled as general civil cases with no specialist Court or judges.  Case management is typically handled by Associate Judges and not by the Judge who will hear the trial.  

Case management and trial hearings in the new Commercial List will by specially appointed, experienced judges.  One of the two judges initially appointed has particular experience in intellectual property matters. 

Intellectual property cases will automatically be presumed to be suitable for placement on the Commercial List.  A party may request placement, and that request will be ruled on by a Commercial List Judge.  The parties will be expected to have considered mediation of their dispute before commencement of proceedings.

We are yet to see how the Commercial List will operate in practice, and to what degree it will achieve the aims stated above.  However, it may provide a significantly faster route to resolution of patent litigation and other IP cases in New Zealand.  Ask our New Zealand patent litigation experts for more details.

 

About Pearce IP

Pearce IP is a boutique firm offering intellectual property specialist lawyers, patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys to the life sciences industries (in particular, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, biotech, ag-tech and food tech).  Pearce IP is the 2021 ‘Intellectual Property Team of the Year’ (Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards) and was shortlisted for the same award in 2022.  Pearce IP is ranked in IAM Patent 1000 and Managing IP (MIP) IP Stars, in Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards as a ‘5 Star’ firm, and the Legal 500 APAC Guide for Intellectual Property.

Our leaders have been recognised in virtually every notable IP listing for their legal, patent and trade mark excellence including: IAM Patent 1000, IAM Strategy 300, MIP IP Stars, Doyles Guide, WIPR Leaders, 5 Star IP Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards, and have been honoured with many awards including Australian Law Awards – IP Partner of the Year, Women in Law Awards – Partner of the Year, Women in Business Law Awards - Patent Lawyer of the Year (Asia Pacific), Most Influential Lawyers (Changemaker), among other awards.

 

Paul Johns

Paul Johns

Executive, Lawyer (NZ, AU) & Trade Mark Attorney (NZ), (Head of Litigation – New Zealand)

Paul is an intellectual property dispute resolution specialist with more than 24 years of experience across New Zealand and the UK. Paul is a seasoned lawyer, IP strategist, and Head of Pearce IP’s litigation team in New Zealand.  Paul is recommended for litigation in the IAM Patent 1000, rated bronze for enforcement and litigation in the WTR1000, ranked Band 4 for Intellectual Property Asia-Pacific in Chambers, and recognised for Intellectual Property and Litigation in Best Lawyers.

Paul is a member of New Zealand’s Copyright Tribunal. He is the Vice Chair of the Patent Law Subcommittee of the IP and Entertainment Law Committee of the International Bar Association. Paul is also a member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand and is an Associate Member of New Zealand Intellectual Property Attorneys Inc.

Sally Paterson

Sally Paterson

Executive Lawyer (NZ), Patent & Trade Mark Attorney (AU, NZ)

Sally is a senior Trans-Tasman Patent and Trade Mark Attorney, and a New Zealand registered lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in IP.  Sally’s particular expertise is in life sciences, drawing from her background in biological sciences.

Sally is well respected in the New Zealand IP community for her broad ranging skills in all aspects of intellectual property advice, protection and enforcement.

Sally has extensive experience securing registration for patents, designs and trade marks in New Zealand, Australia and internationally, providing strategic infringement, validity and enforceability opinions, acting in contentious disputes including matters before the courts of New Zealand and before IPONZ and IP Australia, and advising on copyright and consumer law matters.

Julie Ballance

Julie Ballance

Executive, Patent Attorney & Trade Mark Practitioner (AU, NZ), Lawyer & Notary (NZ)

Julie is a senior Trans-Tasman patent attorney, and a New Zealand registered lawyer and notary public with more than 30 years’ experience across a range of technology areas and a first class honours degree in chemistry. Julie is internationally renowned for her considerable patent/trade mark/designs/legal prowess, including being ranked in IAM Patent 1000.

Naomi Pearce

Naomi Pearce

CEO, Executive Lawyer (AU, NZ), Patent Attorney (AU, NZ) & Trade Mark Attorney (AU)

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.

Sandoz to Expand EU Biosimilar Production with Slovenian Manufacturing Facility

On 1 July 2025, Sandoz announced that it has commenced construction of a new biosimilar production centre in Brnik, Slovenia, due to open in 2028.  Sandoz is investing USD 440 million in the project, which is intended to expand Sandoz’s European biosimilar hub and increase its global market reach.

The new facility will focus on the production of injectable products for Sandoz’s existing and upcoming portfolio of biosimilars and will include preparation, filling, assembly and packaging of sterile injectable products, together with laboratories for quality control.

The project will bring Sandoz’s total planned investment in Slovenia to more than USD 1.1 billion by 2029, with the company previously investing in a biosimilar drug substance centre in Lendava and a biosimilar development centre in Ljubljana.

Sandoz recently launched the first denosumab biosimilars on the US market (Jubbonti® and Wyost®, 2 June 2025) and launched biosimilar ustekinumab in the US in February 2025 (Pyzchiva®, developed by Samsung Bioepis, EU launch in July 2024).  Sandoz currently has a number of biosimilars under development, including nivolumab, ipilimumab, pembrolizumab and ocrelizumab.

Bioeq AG and Bio Usawa Partner to Commercialise Ranibizumab Biosimilar in Africa

On 1 July 2025, Formycon announced that Bioeq AG, which holds the exclusive worldwide commercialisation rights for Formycon’s FYB201, biosimilar to Genentech’s Lucentis® (ranibizumab), has entered into an exclusive partnership with African biotechnology company Bio Usawa Biotechnology Ltd.  The partnership gives Bio Usawa the exclusive rights to commercialise FYB201 under the brand name BioUcenta™ in Sub-Saharan Africa.

FYB201 was developed by Bioeq (a JV between Formycon and Polpharma Biologics).  It has been approved in the UK (in May 2022, marketed as Ongavia® by Teva), in the US (in August 2022, marketed as Cimerli®, to which Sandoz acquired the marketing rights from Coherus in March 2024), the EU (in August 2022, marketed as Ranivisio® by Teva), Canada (in December 2023marketed as Ranopto™ by Teva) and MENA (marketed as Ravegza® by MS Pharma).

Last month, Brazil’s ANVISA had granted marketing authorisation for Ranivisio® (FYB201), with an expected launch in Q4 2025 by Formycon’s commercialisation partner, Biomm, and then a phased market rollout of Ranivisio® across Latin America.  Marketing authorisations have previously been granted in Peru, El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic and further approvals in Central and South America are planned.

Celltrion to Launch Biosimilar Ustekinumab in Japan

On 1 July 2025, Pharma Japan reported that Celltrion will launch Steqeyma® (CT-P43), biosimilar to J&J/Janssen’s Stelara® (ustekinumab), in Japan on 8 July 2025.

Celltrion’s biosimilar ustekinumab launch follows Alvotech/Fuji Pharma’s launch of AVTO4 (ustekinumab) in May 2024 and Biocon/Yoshindo’s Ustekinumab BS Subcutaneous Injection, launched in May 2025.

Samsung Bioepis may be next in line, following its announcement on 9 June 2025 that it had entered into a partnership agreement with NIPRO Corporation in Japan for multiple biosimilars, including SB17, Samsung Bioepis’ ustekinumab biosimilar.

Celltrion’s Steqeyma® was launched in the US in March 2025 and in the EU in November 2024.

Fresenius Kabi Second to Launch US Biosimilar Denosumab

On 1 July 2025, Fresenius Kabi announced the US launch of Conexxence® and Bomyntra®, biosimilars to Amgen’s Prolia® and Xgeva® (denosumab), respectively.  Fresenius’ denosumab biosimilars are the second to launch in the US, following the 2 June 2025 launch of Sandoz’s Wyost® and Jubbonti®.

The launch of Conexxence® and Bomyntra® follows a global settlement agreement between Fresenius Kabi and Amgen, resulting in the dismissal of all claims and counterclaims in US BPCIA litigation commenced by Amgen in October 2024.  The global settlement permits European launch of the products “later in H2 of 2025”, subject to regulatory approvals.  The US launch of Sandoz’s denosumab biosimilars similarly followed a settlement of US patent litigation commenced by Amgen.

There are currently two other sponsors with denosumab biosimilars approved in the US, which have not yet launched: Celltrion (Stoboclo® and Osenvelt®, approved March 2025), and Samsung Bioepis (Ospomyv™ and Xbryk™, approved February 2025). Amgen settled denosumab patent litigation against Celltrion in January 2025, permitting US launch of Celltrion’s Stoboclo® and Osenvelt® from 1 June 2025 (although launch has not yet occurred).  BPCIA litigation commenced by Amgen against Samsung Bioepis regarding denosumab biosimilars remains pending.

Amgen also has pending US BPCIA litigation against Samsung Bioepis, Accord/Intas, Hikma/Gedeon Richter and Shanghai Henlius/Organon, and Biocon, which have all had denosumab biosimilar applications accepted for review by the FDA.

Samsung Bioepis Launches Denosumab Biosimilar in Korea and Strikes Licensing Deal with Boryung

On 1 July 2025, Samsung Bioepis and Hanmi Pharmaceutical announced that they have jointly launched Obodence™, biosimilar to Amgen’s Prolia® (denosumab), in South Korea, at a 13% cost savings to patients compared to the reference product.  This follows Korean approval of Obodence™ in April 2025.

On 2 July 2025, Samsung Bioepis also announced that it has entered into an exclusive licensing deal with Boryung to market its other denosumab biosimilar, Xbryk™ (biosimilar to Amgen’s Xgeva®) in South Korea.  Xbryk™ received Korean approval in May 2025.

Celltrion’s Stoboclo® and Osenvelt™ were the first denosumab biosimilars to be approved in Korea (November 2024).  In March 2025, Daewoong Pharmaceutical launched Celltrion’s Stoboclo® in Korea at a 28% discount to reference product Prolia®.  Celltrion entered into a joint sales agreement with Daewoong in October 2024, under which the two companies jointly promote Celltrion’s denosumab biosimilars in Korea.

Alvotech and Advanz Enter EU Partnership for Certolizumab Pegol Biosimilar

On 1 July 2025, Alvotech and Advanz Pharma announced that the companies have entered into a European supply and commercialisation agreement for AVT10, Alvotech’s biosimilar to UCB’s Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol).

The announcement follows Alvotech’s acquisition of Xbrane’s biosimilar certolizumab pegol in June 2025, together with Xbrane’s Swedish R&D operations.

Alvotech and Advanz entered into partnership agreements in February 2023, May 2023 and June 2024 for commercialisation of certain biosimilars in Europe and certain other countries, including AVT23 (biosimilar to Novartis’ Xolair® (omalizumab)), AVT05 (biosimilar to Janssen’s Simponi® and Simponi Aria® (golimumab)), AVT16 (biosimilar to Takeda’s Entyvio® (vedolizumab)), AVT06 and AVT29 (biosimilars to Regeneron’s Eylea® (aflibercept) in low (2mg) and high (8mg) doses, respectively), and biosimilars to Sanofi/Regeneron’s Dupixent® (dupilumab), Eli Lily’s Taltz® (ixekizumab) and J&J/Janssen’s Tremfya® (guselkumab).  In May 2025, the companies expanded their partnership to include biosimilars to Novartis’ Ilaris® (canakinumab) and Kesimpta® (ofatumumab).

Pearce IP BioBlast® for the week ending 27 June 2025

Pearce IP provides weekly reports on global biosimilars activities in the Pearce IP BioBlast®.  Significant biosimilar activities for the week ending 27 June 2025 are set out below:


Adalimumab

23 June 2025 | US | FDA Approves Samsung Bioepis’ Unbranded Adalimumab Biosimilar

On 23 June 2025, the FDA approved Samsung Bioepis’ sBLA for an unbranded version of Hadlima® (adalimumab-bwwd), biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira® Read more here.


Aflibercept

27 June 2025 | CA | Biocon’s Yesafili™ is First Approved Aflibercept Biosimilar in Canada; July 2025 Launch Planned

On 27 June 2025, Biocon Biologics announced that Yesafili™, biosimilar to Regeneron/Bayer’s Eylea® (aflibercept, 2mg) has been approved by Health Canada in vial and PFS presentations, becoming the… Read more here.

27 June 2025 | EU | Bayer’s Eylea 8mg EU Approved with Extended Treatment Intervals in nAMD and DME

On 27 June 2025, Bayer announced that the European Commission has granted a label extension for Eylea™ 8mg (aflibercept, 114.3mg/ml solution for injection) with extended treatment intervals of up to 6 months… Read more here.


25 June 2025 | US | CA | Formycon/Klinge and Valorum Partner for US Commercialisation of Aflibercept Biosimilar

On 25 June 2025, Formycon announced that Klinge Biopharma, its exclusive global licensee of FYB203/Ahzantive®, biosimilar to Regeneron/Bayer’s Eylea® (aflibercept, 2 mg), has entered an exclusive licence… Read more here.


23 June 2025 | EU | Positive CHMP Opinion for Alvotech/Advanz’s Biosimilar Aflibercept

On 23 June 2025, Alvotech and Advanz Pharma announced that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion for AVT06, biosimilar to Regeneron/Bayer’s Eylea®… Read more here.


Denosumab

25 June 2025 | US | Amgen Sues Hikma/Richter and Shanghai Henlius/Organon Over US Denosumab Biosimilars

On 25 June 2025, Amgen filed BPCIA litigation in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey against Hikma Pharmaceuticals/Gedeon Richter and Shanghai Henlius Biotech/Organon… Read more here.


Dupilumab

25 June 2025 | LATAM | Bio-Thera Partners with SteinCares to Commercialise Dupilumab Biosimilar in LATAM

On 25 June 2025, Bio-Thera Solutions, Ltd. and Costa Rican-based SteinCares announced that they have signed an agreement to commercialise biosimilar dupilumab across Latin America.  Under the… Read more here.


Semaglutide

26 June 2025 | NZ | Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy® (Semaglutide) Set for July New Zealand Launch

On 26 June 2025, New Zealand Doctor reported that Novo Nordisk is set to launch Wegovy® (semaglutide) in New Zealand from 1 July 2025… Read more here.


Ustekinumab

26 June 2025 | EU | Formycon and Teva Join Forces on Ustekinumab Biosimilar in Germany

On 26 June 2025, Formycon announced that it has entered into a non-exclusive distribution agreement with Teva Group’s subsidiary, Ratiopharm GmbH, to commercialise FYB202/Fymskina®… Read more here.

 

About Pearce IP

Pearce IP is a boutique firm offering intellectual property specialist lawyers, patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys to the life sciences industries (in particular, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, biotech, ag-tech and food tech).  Pearce IP is the 2021 ‘Intellectual Property Team of the Year’ (Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards) and was shortlisted for the same award in 2022.  Pearce IP is ranked in IAM Patent 1000 and Managing IP (MIP) IP Stars, in Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards as a ‘5 Star’ firm, and the Legal 500 APAC Guide for Intellectual Property.

Our leaders have been recognised in virtually every notable IP listing for their legal, patent and trade mark excellence including: IAM Patent 1000, IAM Strategy 300, MIP IP Stars, Doyles Guide, WIPR Leaders, 5 Star IP Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards, and have been honoured with many awards including Australian Law Awards – IP Partner of the Year, Women in Law Awards – Partner of the Year, Women in Business Law Awards - Patent Lawyer of the Year (Asia Pacific), Most Influential Lawyers (Changemaker), among other awards.

 

Naomi Pearce

Naomi Pearce

CEO, Executive Lawyer (AU, NZ), Patent Attorney (AU, NZ) & Trade Mark Attorney (AU)

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.

Chantal Savage

Chantal Savage

Special Counsel, Lawyer

Chantal is an intellectual property disputes lawyer with experience advising across the spectrum of IP rights, including patents, trade marks, copyright, plant breeder’s rights and trade secrets/confidential information. Recognised as a Rising Star in IP by the Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2021-2024), Chantal has previously worked for international and top tier law firms in Australia and the United Kingdom and now at Pearce IP.

With a science degree specialising in molecular biology and biochemistry, Chantal’s practice focuses particularly on complex, high-value, multi-jurisdictional patent infringement and revocation proceedings for clients in the life sciences sectors.

Nathan Kan

Nathan Kan

Lawyer

Nathan is a lawyer focused on providing legal services and advice to life sciences clients, with a focus on litigation support regarding intellectual property (patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, domain names, plant breeders rights and confidential information) and commercial disputes.

Nathan is passionate about the intersection of law and science.  Whilst serving as Sponsorship Director and subsequently as Vice President of the Science and Technology Law Association (SATLA) at the University of Melbourne, he led various engagement events, workshops and publications covering a range of STEM fields, including life sciences, artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

 

Amgen Expands US BPCIA Denosumab Litigation to include Biocon

On 30 June 2025, Amgen filed BPCIA litigation against Biocon in the in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Eastern Division, asserting infringement of 34 US patents covering denosumab, pharmaceutical compositions of denosumab, methods of manufacturing therapeutic proteins, like denosumab, and denosumab products.

The litigation follows Biocon’s submission of a Biologics Licence Application to the FDA for Bmab 1000, biosimilar to Amgen’s Prolia® and Xgeva® (denosumab).

The filing of the Biocon Complaint means Amgen now has five US proceedings pending regarding denosumab biosimilars, with litigation against Hikma/Gedeon Richter and Shanghai Henlius/Organon commenced on 25 June 2025 and proceedings against Accord/Intas and Samsung Bioepis commenced in November 2024 and August 2024, respectively.

Amgen has settled three other US denosumab disputes over the last 18 months.  A dispute with Sandoz, commenced in May 2023, was resolved in April 2024, enabling Sandoz to launch its denosumab biosimilars, Jubbonti® and Wyost®, in the US from 31 May 2025.  Jubbonti® and Wyost® were launched in the US on 2 June 2025.  Amgen settled its US litigation against Celltrion in January 2025, permitting US launch of Celltrion’s denosumab biosimilar, CT-P41, from 1 June 2025 (although launch has not yet occurred).  In March 2025, Amgen entered into a global settlement of its patent infringement litigation in relation to Fresenius Kabi’s denosumab biosimilar, allowing US launch of Fresenius’ biosimilar in mid-2025.

Study Demonstrates Biosimilarity of Beijing SL’s KM118 (Pertuzumab) with Roche’s Perjeta®

The results of a phase I study published in Annals of Medicine is said to have established biosimilarity between Beijing SL Pharmaceuticals’ pertuzumab biosimilar, KM118, and the reference product, Roche’s Perjeta®.

Roche has previously claimed it is unconcerned about biosimilar pertuzumab products despite pertuzumab biosimilars being considered for approval in China, Europe and the USA (all by Henlius), and approved in India (Zydus and Intas) and Russia (Biocad).

Bayer’s Eylea™ 8mg EU Approved with Extended Treatment Intervals in nAMD and DME

On 27 June 2025, Bayer announced that the European Commission has granted a label extension for Eylea™ 8mg (aflibercept, 114.3mg/ml solution for injection) with extended treatment intervals of up to 6 months for the treatment of nAMD and visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema (DME).

This news comes just over a month after the label extension was recommended by the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in May 2025.

Eylea™ 8mg (known as Eylea HD® in the US) was jointly developed by Bayer and Regeneron.  Regeneron holds the exclusive rights to both 2mg and 8mg Eylea™ in the US, while Bayer holds those outside the US, where the companies equally share the profits from sales of the products.

Eylea™ 8 mg (aflibercept 8 mg) has been approved to date in more than 60 markets for the treatment of nAMD and DME.  Regeneron/Bayer have recently submitted marketing authorisation applications for Eylea™ 8mg for the treatment of patients with macular oedema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in Japan (May 2025), Europe (April 2025) and the US (application accepted by FDA for priority review in April 2025, with a target action date of 19 August 2025).

Biocon’s Yesafili™ is First Approved Aflibercept Biosimilar in Canada; July 2025 Launch Planned

On 27 June 2025, Biocon Biologics announced that Yesafili™, biosimilar to Regeneron/Bayer’s Eylea® (aflibercept, 2mg) has been approved by Health Canada in vial and PFS presentations, becoming the first aflibercept biosimilar approved in Canada.  It is indicated for nAMD, visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to RVO, diabetic macular oedema (DME) and myopic CNV.

The Canadian launch of Yesafili™ is planned for 4 July 2025, as a result of a March 2024 settlement between Biocon and Regeneron/Bayer.  The July 2025 Canadian launch will be the first launch of Yesafili™ worldwide.  Amgen’s Pavblu™ (aflibercept) was launched in the US in October 2024.

Yesafili™ was the first aflibercept biosimilar approved in Europe in September 2023 (where it is not yet launched).  In the US, both Yesafili™ and Samsung Bioepis’ Opuviz®, were the first approved interchangeable aflibercept biosimilars in May 2024.  Biocon and Regeneron settled US BPCIA litigation regarding aflibercept in April 2025, paving the way for a US launch of Yesafili™ in the second half of 2026, or earlier under certain undisclosed circumstances.

Formycon and Teva Join Forces on Ustekinumab Biosimilar in Germany

On 26 June 2025, Formycon announced that it has entered into a non-exclusive distribution agreement with Teva Group’s subsidiary, Ratiopharm GmbH, to commercialise FYB202/Fymskina®, biosimilar to J&J/Janssen’s Stelara® (ustekinumab), in Germany.  German launch of Fymskina® is planned for Q3 2025.

Under the agreement, which follows the European Commission’s approval of Fymskina®/FYB202 in September 2024, Formycon is responsible for manufacture and supply, and Ratiopharm is responsible for commercialisation.

Formycon entered into a global commercialisation partnership for FYB202 with Fresenius Kabi in February 2023, in which Formycon retained secondary commercialisation rights for Germany, parts of Latin America, and the MENA region.  Pursuant to the global commercialisation agreement, Formycon and Fresenius Kabi launched FYB202 (marketed as Otulfi®) in Canada in May 2025 and in the US in March 2025 (securing US interchangeability for FYB202 in May 2025).  Formycon also separately entered into a licence/supply agreement with MS Pharma for countries in the MENA region in December 2024.

Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy® (Semaglutide) Set for July New Zealand Launch

On 26 June 2025, New Zealand Doctor reported that Novo Nordisk is set to launch Wegovy® (semaglutide) in New Zealand from 1 July 2025.

New Zealand’s Medsafe approved Wegovy® in March 2025 for two indications:

  • an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and above; and
  • as an adjunct to standard of care therapy to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adults with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) without established Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

Semaglutide was first approved in New Zealand as Ozempic® in March 2023, indicated for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise.

Wegovy® was launched in Australia in August 2024, following its approval in September 2022 for weight management.  In December 2024, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved an indication extension for Wegovy® to reduce the risk of MACE in overweight and obese adults with established CVD and without established Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.

Amgen Sues Hikma/Richter and Shanghai Henlius/Organon Over US Denosumab Biosimilars

On 25 June 2025, Amgen filed BPCIA litigation in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey against Hikma Pharmaceuticals/Gedeon Richter and Shanghai Henlius Biotech/Organon, asserting infringement of multiple US patents (32 for Hikma/Richter and 26 for Henlius/Organon) covering denosumab, pharmaceutical compositions of denosumab, methods of manufacturing therapeutic proteins, like denosumab, and denosumab products.

The litigation follows the FDA’s acceptance in December 2024 of Richter/Hikma’s BLA for RGB-14-P and RGB-14-X, biosimilars to Amgen’s Prolia® and Xgeva® (denosumab).  Under an exclusive licence agreement entered in December 2021, Gedeon Richter is responsible for the development of RGB-14, while Hikma is responsible for FDA registration and has exclusive rights to commercialise it in the US following approval.

Organon and Shanghai Helius’ BLA for HLX14 (denosumab) was accepted for review by the FDA in October 2024.  In June 2022, Shanghai Henlius entered into a licence agreement with Organon regarding HLX14 (and pertuzumab, HLX11) under which Organon has exclusive global commercialisation rights for all countries except China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

The complaints against Hikma/Richter and Henlius/Organon represent the 6th and 7th BPCIA suits filed by Amgen in the US in relation to alleged patent infringement concerning denosumab biosimilars.  However, Amgen has settled three of its US denosumab disputes over the last 18 months.  A dispute with Sandoz, commenced in May 2023, was resolved in April 2024, enabling Sandoz to launch its denosumab biosimilars, Jubbonti® and Wyost®, in the US from 31 May 2025.  Amgen settled its US litigation against Celltrion in January 2025, permitting US launch of Celltrion’s denosumab biosimilar, CT-P41, from 1 June 2025.  In March 2025, Amgen entered into a global settlement of its patent infringement litigation in relation to Fresenius Kabi’s denosumab biosimilar, allowing US launch of Fresenius’ biosimilar in mid-2025.  Amgen’s BPCIA litigation against Accord/Intas and Samsung Bioepis regarding their denosumab biosimilars remains pending.

Bio-Thera Partners with SteinCares to Commercialise Dupilumab Biosimilar in LATAM

On 25 June 2025, Bio-Thera Solutions, Ltd. and Costa Rican-based SteinCares announced that they have signed an agreement to commercialise biosimilar dupilumab across Latin America.  Under the agreement, Bio-Thera will be responsible for product development and supply, while SteinCares will lead the registration and commercialisation process throughout Latin America.

Bio-Thera’s BAT2406, biosimilar to Sanofi’s Dupixent® (dupilumab), is currently undergoing Phase I clinical trials.

This is the fourth product on which the companies have agreed to collaborate in the region.  An agreement was announced in March 2024 in relation to BAT2606, biosimilar to GSK’s Nucala® (mepolizumab) and BAT2506, biosimilar to J&J’s Simponi® and Simponi Aria® (golimumab).  The partnership was expanded in December 2024 to include a third undisclosed product.

BioBlast® Editor and Contributing Author

Naomi Pearce & Emily Bristow

Naomi Pearce & Emily Bristow

Editor: Naomi Pearce, Executive Lawyer, Patent Attorney & Trade Mark Attorney
Contributing Author: Emily Bristow, Law Graduate

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