By Kim Tae-gyu
Samsung Bioepis introduced SB2, a generic version of Janssen's rheumatoid arthritis treatment Remicade, in the United Kingdom last week, the biosimilar drug maker said Sunday.
After obtaining final approval in Europe in May, Boston-based powerhouse Biogen took charge of selling the medicine under the brand name Flixabi.
"The U.K. is not the first European country where SB2 commercially debuted. It also went on sales in other places in Europe," a Samsung official said. But she refused to disclose details.
Janssen's Remicade has been a blockbuster as the U.S. company had a turnover of $4.5 billion in the United States and $9.9 billion in total last year from the autoimmune disorder drug.
Earlier this year, Samsung Bioepis applied for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sell SB2 in the world's largest pharmaceutical market in an alliance with Merck.
Celltrion might not be happy with the news as the cross-city rival of Samsung Bioepis is also betting its future on Remsima, its own biosimilar version of Remicade.
Celltrion, the largest-capitalized corporation in Korea's tech-heavy KOSDAQ, introduced Remsima in Europe in 2013 and now has a 30 percent market share.
The firm is seeking to raise this to more than 40 percent in the near future and is poised to market the drug in the U.S. in partnership with Pfizer after getting FDA approval in April. It sent the first batch of the drugs to the U.S. last month.
Considering its potential, many global players have invested in the company. Some major investors are Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek and One Equity Partners, an internal fund at JP Morgan.
Samsung Bioepis also gained regulatory approval for another biosimilar medicine called SB4 in Europe in January and commercialized it under the trade name Benepali. It copies Enbrel from U.S. pharmaceutical company Amgen, and treats rheumatoid arthritis and plaque psoriasis.
Samsung Bioepis was set up in 2012 as a joint venture between Samsung BioLogics and Biogen. The firm is responsible for developing and producing products as well as global clinical trials and regulatory registration.
Marketing, distribution and sales are carried out by Biogen and Merck, with whom Samsung Bioepis signed commercialization deals. Merck is known as MSD in Korea.
Samsung Group has shelled out big bucks on Samsung BioLogics as Korea's No. 1 conglomerate regards the bio segment as one of its main next-generation growth engines.
Samsung Bioepis introduced SB2, a generic version of Janssen's rheumatoid arthritis treatment Remicade, in the United Kingdom last week, the biosimilar drug maker said Sunday.
After obtaining final approval in Europe in May, Boston-based powerhouse Biogen took charge of selling the medicine under the brand name Flixabi.
"The U.K. is not the first European country where SB2 commercially debuted. It also went on sales in other places in Europe," a Samsung official said. But she refused to disclose details.
Janssen's Remicade has been a blockbuster as the U.S. company had a turnover of $4.5 billion in the United States and $9.9 billion in total last year from the autoimmune disorder drug.
Earlier this year, Samsung Bioepis applied for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sell SB2 in the world's largest pharmaceutical market in an alliance with Merck.
Celltrion might not be happy with the news as the cross-city rival of Samsung Bioepis is also betting its future on Remsima, its own biosimilar version of Remicade.
Celltrion, the largest-capitalized corporation in Korea's tech-heavy KOSDAQ, introduced Remsima in Europe in 2013 and now has a 30 percent market share.
The firm is seeking to raise this to more than 40 percent in the near future and is poised to market the drug in the U.S. in partnership with Pfizer after getting FDA approval in April. It sent the first batch of the drugs to the U.S. last month.
Considering its potential, many global players have invested in the company. Some major investors are Singapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek and One Equity Partners, an internal fund at JP Morgan.
Samsung Bioepis also gained regulatory approval for another biosimilar medicine called SB4 in Europe in January and commercialized it under the trade name Benepali. It copies Enbrel from U.S. pharmaceutical company Amgen, and treats rheumatoid arthritis and plaque psoriasis.
Samsung Bioepis was set up in 2012 as a joint venture between Samsung BioLogics and Biogen. The firm is responsible for developing and producing products as well as global clinical trials and regulatory registration.
Marketing, distribution and sales are carried out by Biogen and Merck, with whom Samsung Bioepis signed commercialization deals. Merck is known as MSD in Korea.
Samsung Group has shelled out big bucks on Samsung BioLogics as Korea's No. 1 conglomerate regards the bio segment as one of its main next-generation growth engines.
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