Herzuma, Celltrion’s version of Roche’s bestselling cancer monoclonal antibody Herceptin, received European approval last month. Celltrion’s long-term commercialisation partner MundiPharma has secured the rights to the product and will launch the biosimilar in seven countries: Germany, UK, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy and Luxembourg.
However, Herzuma will be the second trastuzumab to be launched in Europe after MSD (known as Merck & Co. in North America) launched Ontruzant – developed by Samsung Bioepis – in the UK earlier this month.
Within developed markets, it is considered critical to be first to market with a biosimilar product as financial opportunities will shrink as rival biosimilars enter and drive prices down. Therefore we asked Mundipharma
“We believe the experience and success we’ve achieved launching other monoclonal antibody biosimilars positions us strongly to succeed in those markets where we have exclusivity with Celltrion,” said spokesperson Alison Dyson.
Mundipharma has launched Celltrion’s version of J&J’s Remicade (infliximab), Remsima, and Roche’s Mabthera (rituximab), Truxima, within Europe.
“We understand these markets, how to achieve access in these markets and we have developed a deep insight into the needs of hcps who may consider biosimilars as an alternative treatment option. This, we believe, this will accelerate our speed to market over our competitors.”
Dyson was unable to estimate the possible market shares for Herzuma.