Aurobindo Acquires Four Biosimilars, Including Avastin Biosimilar Molecule

Aurobindo Pharma, a Hyderabad, India-headquartered generics and active pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturer, has acquired four cell-culture-derived biosimilar candidates from TL Biopharmaceutical AG, based in Switzerland. Three of the four candidates are monoclonal antibodies in oncology, including a lead molecule that is a biosimilar candidate to bevacizumab, the active ingredient in Roche’s blockbuster anti-cancer drug, Avastin (bevacizumab), which had 2016 sales of CHF 6.78 billion ($6.76 billion).

Under the agreement, TL will supply all the developmental data for the four molecules, and Aurobindo and/or its affiliates will develop, commercialize, and market these products globally. Aurobindo plans to conduct regulatory filings for these biosimilar candidates in the period 2020 to 2022. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

For the bevacizumab biosimilar candidate, Aurobindo is preparing to initiate clinical trials this year. Avastin, a vascular endothelial growth factor-specific angiogenesis inhibitor drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2004, is indicated for treating multiple cancers, including metastatic colon or rectal cancer, non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, glioblastoma, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, and recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.

This transaction represents a strategic investment for Aurobindo’s future growth in the biosimilars market. In addition to these four candidates, Aurobindo has eight more biosimilar candidates in its pipeline. The company has also set up a fully functional research and development center for biologics development and is establishing a manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, which should be ready by the second quarter of 2018.

Source: Aurobindo Pharma

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