Dr Reddy’s plans EU launch for biosimilar cancer treatment

Dr Reddy's Laboratories is planning to launch a biosimilar version of Roche's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment rituximab in Europe.

The company is in talks with European regulators about the potential launch of Reditux, which is the world's first biosimilar monoclonal antibody and would be commercialised in partnership with Merck Serono.

Reditux was introduced in India in 2007 and is now the fourth-largest brand in Dr Reddy's portfolio, reports DNA India.

A spokesperson for Dr Reddy's said: "Europe is an attractive market for it and we are actively pursuing it."

This comes as part of a wider corporate strategy to further explore the commercial potential of biosimilars, having signed partnerships with GlaxoSmithKline and Merck Serono in this area.

The Merck Serono partnership was agreed in June 2012 and will see the companies developing new biosimilars in the field of oncology, with Dr Reddy's handling development until the end of phase I testing, before its partner takes over responsibility for later-stage trials and manufacturing operations.