Epirus, Orygen in Brazilian biosimilars deal
Epirus Biopharmaceuticals Inc. (Boston, Mass.) partnered with the JV Orygen Biotecnologia Ltda. to develop and commercialize biosimilars in Brazil. The deal includes Epirus' BOW015, a biosimilar of Remicade infliximab, as well as two additional undisclosed biosimilar mAbs from Epirus. Epirus will be primarily responsible for clinical development and will have rights to the products outside of Brazil. Orygen will have rights to the biosimilars in Brazil. Epirus is eligible for up to $275 million in an undisclosed upfront payment, milestones, royalties and service-based fees.
BOW015 is in Phase III testing for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with regulatory submissions in undisclosed emerging markets expected over the next 12 months. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) market Remicade, a chimeric mAb against tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, to treat RA, ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD), ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis. ...