Hospira and Phenex entered into an agreement to collaborate on development and commercialization of a biosimilar of Lucentis (ranibizumab) from Novartis
America-based Hospira specializes in injectables. Pfenex is an American biotechnology company. Ranibizumab is a monoclonal antibody to endothelial growth factor A used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration and resulting loss of vision. Lucentis global turnover amounted to US$4 billion in 2014. Russian Lucentis sales reached US$37.5 million in 2013. Ranibizumab patent expires in 2022 in Europe and in June 2020 in the USA. The biosimilar is in stage II clinical trials at this time. Phenex is also developing vaccines, teriparatide generic and 6 other biosimilars: 5 — in a joint venture with India-based Strides Arcolab, including pegylated forms of interferon alpha-2a, filgrastim and asparaginase, and 1 product of its own — follow-on biologic of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor Cimzia from UCB (certolizumab-pegol). Partnerships are a way for Pfenex to expand its R&D.
Sources: Generics and Biosimilars Initiative, Vidal, EvaluatePharma®, DSM Group