biosimilar bevacizumab: Development planned

Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics Co. Ltd. announced plans to develop a biosimilar version of cancer drug Avastin bevacizumab, with clinical trials expected to begin in 2014. Fujifilm Kyowa was launched earlier this year as a 50/50 JV between Fujifilm Holdings and Kyowa Hakko Kirin. The JV already is developing a biosimilar version of autoimmune drug Humira adalimumab, with clinical trials expected to begin in Europe next half (see BioCentury, Nov. 21, 2011 & April 2, 2012).

Avastin is approved in the EU and U.S. for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC), as well as for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in the U.S. Avastin is also approved in the EU for first-line treatment of HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. Genentech Inc., a unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY, Basel, Switzerland), markets Avastin in the U.S., while Roche markets it elsewhere. ...