Epirus, Livzon, Joincare deal

Epirus Biopharmaceuticals partnered with Livzon Mabpharm Inc. to develop, manufacture and commercialize up to five biosimilar antibodies in Asia. The first product to be developed under the deal is Infimab infliximab, Epirus' biosimilar of Remicade from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ, New Brunswick, N.J.) and Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK, Whitehouse Station, N.J.). Epirus said Livzon will be responsible for development and commercialization of Infimab in China and Taiwan. Epirus also said Livzon will serve as the preferred supplier of the product in the territories following a transfer of Epirus' SCALE manufacturing platform. Epirus, which will be eligible for undisclosed royalties, did not respond in time for publication. Livzon could not be reached for details.

Earlier this month, Infimab became India's first approved biosimilar of Remicade, a chimeric mAb against tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. The approval was Epirus' first anywhere. Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. (NSE:RANBAXY; BSE:500359, Gurgaon, India) has commercialization rights to Infimab in India and other Southeast Asian and North African markets under a January deal. J&J and Merck market Remicade worldwide to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis (see BioCentury, Jan. 13 & Sept. 22). ...