Amgen and Allergan report positive data for lung cancer biosimilar

Amgen and Allergan have announced clinical trial data that demonstrates the potential benefits offered by their new biosimilar lung cancer therapy.

The phase III study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the biosimilar candidate ABP 215 compared with the established Avastin in adult patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

Primary efficacy analysis showed that the biosimilar was able to demonstrate clinical equivalence, with its safety and immunogenicity performance shown to be comparable to Avastin.

Secondary endpoint results were consistent with the primary finding and included risk difference of objective response rates, duration of response and progression-free survival.

Dr Sean Harper, executive vice-president of research and development at Amgen, said: "Amgen is committed to bringing high-quality, reliably supplied medicines to patients and we're excited to leverage our development and manufacturing capabilities in oncology for our biosimilars."

Amgen and Allergan are collaborating on the development and commercialisation of four oncology biosimilars, with a total of nine biosimilars in development at Amgen.