Sandoz commences trial of biosimilar Humira

Sandoz has announced the launch of a phase III trial assessing the benefits of a new biosimilar version of the successful autoimmune disease therapy Humira.

The company has developed a biosimilar equivalent of the commonly-prescribed Abbott drug, which is also known as adalimumab. The aim of the new trial is to demonstrate the equivalent efficacy, similarity and immunogenicity of the Sandoz product to Humira in patients with moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis.

This global trial spans 12 countries across Europe, the US and Asia, including Japan. It is Sandoz's eighth phase III trial initiation across six compounds and will support regulatory filings for the drug in the US and EU.

Sandoz is the global market leader in the biosimilar market, with a more than 50 percent market share in the US, Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia.

Dr Mark McCamish, head of global biopharmaceutical and oncology injectables development at Sandoz, said: "This latest advancement in our pipeline represents our unwavering commitment to expanding patient access to biologics – particularly in disease areas where there is a significant need for more treatment choices."

This comes after the firm launched a phase III trial of a biosimilar version of Amgen's psoriasis drug Enbrel earlier this year.