EC approval for Pyzchiva, a biosimilar of Stelara

The European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for Pyzchiva (biosimilar ustekinumab), said Swiss generics and biosimilars company Sandoz (SIX: SDZ), whose shares jumped more than 9% to 31.11 francs by late morning today.

Developed and registered by South Korea’s Samsung Bioepis, Pyzchiva is a key biosimilar value driver for the company over the mid-term and this approval is a major step in advancing Sandoz growth strategy, the company said.

Pyzchiva is approved as a biologic therapy within gastroenterology, dermatology, and rheumatology therapies sector and is a biosimilar of Johnson & Johnson’s (NYSE: JNJ) Stelara.