Samsung Bioepis/Biogen biosimilar of Remicade launched in UK

Flixabi, a biosimilar version of US health care giant Johnson & Johnson’s (NYSE: JNJ) inflammatory diseases drug Remicade (infliximab), has been launched in the UK.

This biosimilar, to treat adults with conditions including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and psoriasis, has been developed by Samsung Bioepis, a joint venture involving Korean conglomerate Samsung and US biotech major Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB).

It is being marketed in Europe by Biogen, where Flixabi gained marketing authorization in May, following on from the European Commission approval earlier in the year for Benepali, another anti-TNF biosimilar developed by the venture which references the big-selling product Enbrel (etanercept).