Biogen and Samsung Bioepis highlight anti-TNF biosimilar research at EULAR 2015

Biogen and Samsung Bioepis are presenting results from their anti-TNF biosimilar portfolio at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) annual congress this week.

During the conference in Rome, results from separate head-to-head phase III studies will highlight the clinical comparability of SB4 (etanercept) and SB2 (infliximab), which are biosimilar development candidates based on the reference products Enbrel and Remicade.

Also being presented is equivalence data from a phase I pharmacokinetic study comparing SB5 (adalimumab), a biosimilar development candidate created from the reference product Humira.

If approved by the European Medicines Agency, the company plans to market all three anti-TNF biosimilar candidates in Europe.

John Cox, executive vice-president of pharmaceutical operations and technology at Biogen, said: "With our leading manufacturing capabilities and deep scientific expertise, we believe we are well positioned to bring the three most commonly used anti-TNF therapies to physicians, payers and ultimately the patients who need them most."

The company reported year-on-year revenue growth of 20 percent during the first quarter of 2015, thanks primarily to the strong performance of its multiple sclerosis portfolio.