FDA approves biosimilar Pyzchiva® (ustekinumab-ttwe), to be
commercialized by Sandoz in US
Ad hoc announcement pursuant to art. 53 SIX Swiss Exchange
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FDA approves biosimilar Pyzchiva® (ustekinumab-ttwe), to
be commercialized by Sandoz in US
- Pyzchiva® (ustekinumab-ttwe) is
approved by FDA for all indications of reference medicine
- FDA granted provisional
determination for interchangeability designation for Pyzchiva®
- Extends Sandoz immunology portfolio
and further strengthens biosimilar position
- Expected to be among first wave of
ustekinumab biosimilars to launch in US
Basel, July 1, 2024 – Sandoz, the global leader
in generic and biosimilar medicines, today announced that the US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved biosimilar
Pyzchiva®* (ustekinumab-ttwe) 45 mg/0.5 mL and 90 mg/mL
pre-filled syringes for subcutaneous injection and 130 mg/26 mL
(5 mg/mL) single-dose vial for intravenous infusion. Developed
by Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd, it is approved for all indications of
its reference medicine and will be commercialized by Sandoz in the
US. In addition, the FDA provisionally determined that Pyzchiva®
would be interchangeable with the reference medicine as it is
currently subject to an unexpired period of exclusivity for the
first interchangeable biosimilar biological products.
Sandoz intends to launch Pyzchiva® in the US in February 2025,
in accordance with the settlement and license agreement with
Janssen Biotech Inc. previously announced by Samsung Bioepis Co.,
Ltd. Pyzchiva® is expected to be among the first wave of
ustekinumab biosimilars to launch in the US.
Claire D'Abreu-Hayling, Chief Scientific Officer, Sandoz, said:
“This approval reflects our dedication to ensuring high-quality
treatments are universally accessible. By further expanding our
immunology portfolio with affordable biosimilar alternatives, we
continue to make significant strides towards achieving our goal of
delivering life-changing medicines to the patients who need
them.”
Pyzchiva® is a key biosimilar value driver for the company over
the mid-term, and this approval is a major step in advancing the
Sandoz growth strategy by extending the US immunology
portfolio.
Pyzchiva® is approved by the FDA for all indications of the
reference medicine Stelara®† (ustekinumab), a human
interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 antagonist,1 including to
treat adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis,
active psoriatic arthritis, moderately to severely active Crohn’s
disease and moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis, as
well as pediatric patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
and active psoriatic arthritis.2
Leah M. Howard, J.D., President and CEO of the National
Psoriasis Foundation, said: "Systemic medications like biologics
are a key treatment option for many people to manage symptoms of
psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Unfortunately, barriers to care,
including costs, often prevent patients from getting the drug they
are prescribed. Psoriatic disease is lifelong and chronic, leading
to long-term treatment costs. Having more FDA-approved options can
help make appropriate healthcare more affordable.”
Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis, affecting
approximately 80% to 90% of patients.3
The FDA granted approval to Samsung Bioepis based on the
totality of the evidence, including robust clinical studies
confirming that Pyzchiva® has equivalent efficacy and comparable
safety as its reference medicine.
Sandoz entered into a development and commercialization
agreement for biosimilar ustekinumab with Samsung Bioepis in
September 2023. Under the terms of the agreement, Sandoz has the
right to commercialize Pyzchiva® in the US, Canada, the European
Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the UK. Samsung Bioepis
remains responsible for development, registration, intellectual
property, manufacturing and supply.
*Pyzchiva® is a trademark of Samsung Bioepis Co. Ltd.
†Stelara® is a registered trademark of JOHNSON &
JOHNSON (USA).
INDICATIONS
PYZCHIVA (ustekinumab-ttwe) is indicated for the treatment of
patients 6 years or older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis
who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy, patients 6
years or older with active psoriatic arthritis, adult patients with
moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease, adult patients with
moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Clinically significant
hypersensitivity to ustekinumab or to any of the excipients.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS:
Infections: Serious infections have
occurred. Avoid starting PYZCHIVA during any clinically important
active infection. If a serious infection or clinically significant
infection develops, discontinue PYZCHIVA until the infection
resolves. Theoretical Risk for Particular
Infections: Serious infections from mycobacteria,
salmonella and Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccinations have
been reported in patients genetically deficient in IL-12/IL-23.
Consider diagnostic tests for these infections as dictated by
clinical circumstances. Tuberculosis
(TB): Evaluate patients for TB prior to initiating
treatment with PYZCHIVA. Initiate treatment of latent TB before
administering PYZCHIVA. Malignancies:
Ustekinumab products may increase risk of malignancy. The safety of
ustekinumab products in patients with a history of or a known
malignancy has not been evaluated. Hypersensitivity
Reactions: If an anaphylactic or other clinically
significant hypersensitivity reaction occurs, institute appropriate
therapy and discontinue PYZCHIVA. Posterior Reversible
Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES): If PRES is suspected,
treat promptly and discontinue PYZCHIVA.
Immunizations:
Avoid use of live vaccines in patients during treatment with
PYZCHIVA. Noninfectious Pneumonia: Cases
of interstitial pneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia and cryptogenic
organizing pneumonia have been reported during post-approval use of
ustekinumab products. If diagnosis is confirmed, discontinue
PYZCHIVA and institute appropriate treatment.
ADVERSE REACTIONS: Most common adverse
reactions are Psoriasis (≥3%): nasopharyngitis, upper
respiratory tract infection, headache, and fatigue. Crohn’s
Disease, induction (≥3%): vomiting. Crohn’s Disease,
maintenance (≥3%): nasopharyngitis, injection site erythema,
vulvovaginal candidiasis/mycotic infection, bronchitis, pruritus,
urinary tract infection, and sinusitis. Ulcerative colitis,
induction (≥3%): nasopharyngitis. Ulcerative colitis,
maintenance (≥3%): nasopharyngitis, headache, abdominal pain,
influenza, fever, diarrhea, sinusitis, fatigue, and nausea.
This is not the complete list of all the safety
information for PYZCHIVA. Please see full
Prescribing Information for
PYZCHIVA.
Disclaimer
This Media Release contains forward-looking statements, which offer
no guarantee with regard to future performance. These statements
are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions
regarding future events and business performance at the time the
statements are made. They are subject to risks and uncertainties
including, but not confined to, future global economic conditions,
exchange rates, legal provisions, market conditions, activities by
competitors and other factors outside of the control of Sandoz.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or
should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may
vary materially from those forecasted or expected. Each
forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the
particular statement, and Sandoz undertakes no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as
required by law.
References
1. Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Stelara® (Ustekinumab):
Prescribing Information. Available at:
https://www.janssenlabels.com/package-insert/product-monograph/prescribing-information/STELARA-pi.pdf
[Last accessed: June 2024]
2. Pyzchiva®. Prescribing Information. Available at: BLA
761373 and BLA 761425 PI MG and IFU.pdf (sandoz.com) [Last
accessed: June 2024]
3. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Guidelines of
Care for the Management Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: Section
1. Overview of psoriasis and guidelines of care for the treatment
of psoriasis with biologics. Available at:
https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(08)00273-9/fulltext [Last
accessed: June 2024]
About Sandoz
Sandoz (SIX: SDZ; OTCQX: SDZNY) is the global leader in generic and
biosimilar medicines, with a growth strategy driven by its Purpose:
pioneering access for patients. More than 20,000 people of more
than 100 nationalities work together to ensure 800 million patient
treatments are provided annually by Sandoz, generating substantial
global healthcare savings and an even larger social impact. Its
leading portfolio of approximately 1,500 products addresses
diseases from the common cold to cancer. Headquartered in Basel,
Switzerland, Sandoz traces its heritage back to 1886. Its history
of breakthroughs includes Calcium Sandoz in 1929, the world’s first
oral penicillin in 1951, and the first biosimilar in 2006. In 2023,
Sandoz recorded sales of USD 9.6 billion.
Global Media Relations contacts |
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Investor.Relations@sandoz.com |
Joerg
E. Allgaeuer
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Karen M. King
+1 609 722 0982 |
Chris
Lewis
+49 174 244 9501 |
Laurent de Weck
+41 79 795 7364 |
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