Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics sets up JV with AstraZeneca for biosimilar Avastin

27 July 2015

Japan’s Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologic has entered into an agreement with Anglo-Swedish pharma major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) to establish a joint venture for the development and commercialization of FKB238 in development for the treatment of multiple solid tumors.

FKB238 is a biosimilar version of bevacizumab, Swiss drug major Roche's (ROG: SIX) blockbuster drug Avastin, an anti-VEGF1 humanized monoclonal antibody with established efficacy across a range of cancers including colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer. Avastin generated sales of 3.26 billion francs ($3.40 billion) in the first half of 2015, a year-on-year rise of 9%. Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics, itself a JV between Fujifilm and Kyowa Hakko Kirin (TYO: 4151), commenced its Phase I clinical trial for FKB238 in Europe in November 2014.

$45 million payment to Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics

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