Novartis and Sandoz receive EU approval for new biosimilar Rixathon

Novartis and Sandoz's new biosimilar Rixathon, designed for the treatment of blood cancers and immunological diseases, has been approved by the European Commission.

The drug is a biosimilar version of Roche's MabThera and is approved for use in all of the same indications, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopic polyangiitis.

Over the course of a comprehensive development programme, Rixathon was shown to match its reference medicine in terms of safety, efficacy and quality, albeit at a much lower cost.

Sandoz now has four biosimilars approved in Europe, which is more than any other company. The launch of Rixathon is one of five major product introductions planned over the next four years.

Carol Lynch, global head of biopharmaceuticals at Sandoz, said: "We have worked with care and passion towards this approval, and now is the time when we are bringing this medicine to healthcare professionals and patients in Europe."

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