Hospira adds European markets for Remicade biosimilar

Hospira Inc. (NYSE:HSP) launched Inflectra infliximab (CT- P13), its biosimilar of Remicade from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK), in major European markets including Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. The drug is now available in 24 European countries to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis (UC) and plaque psoriasis. Inflectra was the first biosimilar mAb approved by the European Commission (see BioCentury Extra, Sept. 10, 2013).

Hospira declined to disclose details about the price of the humanized mAb against tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. During Merck's earnings call earlier this month, the company said it had seen discounts of about 30% in European markets where Inflectra had already launched. ...