Johnson & Johnson in deal for sales of biosimilars

Alvotech said yesterday it has reached settlement agreements with Johnson & Johnson for launching a biosimilar of the pharmaceutical giant’s blockbuster psoriasis drug Stelara in Japan, Canada and Europe for the rest of this year.

The deals allow Alvotech’s biosimilar, or near copies of a biological drug, to enter the Canadian market in the first quarter of 2024 and then Japan in May. Entry to the first European markets is expected after late July.

STELARA HAS BEEN JOHNSON & JOHNSON ’ S TOPSELLING DRUG SINCE 2019, BUT ITS KEY PATENTS BEGAN TO EXPIRE IN 2023

Stelara has been Johnson & Johnson ’ s top-selling drug since 2019, but its key patents began to expire in 2023.

Alvotech said its marketing partner in Japan, Fuji Pharma, already has authorisation for the drug and it will be marketed as Ustekinumab BS (F) in the country, while the biosimilar will be sold by Alvotech’s partner JAMP Pharma in Canada.

STADA Arzneimittel will start selling the biosimilar under the name Uzpruvo from July in some countries that are part of the European Economic Area.

In June, Alvotech and its Israeli partner Teva Pharmaceutical reached a settlement and licensing agreement with Johnson & Johnson for the launch of the biosimilar, AVT04, no later than February 21 next year if it gets approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Its decision is expected by April 16.

A key Stelara patent expired in the US in 2023 but Johnson & Johnson struck deals with rivals to delay the launches of their biosimilars until 2025. Amgen will be the first to launch its near-copy, Wezlana. /