Second MabThera biosimilar approved in Europe

Sandoz, Novartis’ (NOVN: VX) biosimilars and generics business, today revealed that the European Commission has approved Rixathon (biosimilar rituximab).

Rixathon is approved for use in all indications of the reference medicine, fellow Switzerland-based pharma giant rival Roche’s (ROG: SIX) blockbuster MabThera/Rituxan, which generated sales of around $1.95 billion I the first quarter of this year.

"Today's approval of Rixathon represents a big win for patients in Europe with blood cancers or immunological diseases because it enables increased access to biologics. It also allows healthcare systems to redeploy resources to other areas of high need, particularly innovative therapies," said Carol Lynch, global head, Biopharmaceuticals, Sandoz. "Sandoz is committed to increasing patient access to biologic medicines, and Rixathon will be one of the five major launches we plan in the next four years. We have worked with care and passion towards this approval, and now is the time when we are bringing this medicine to healthcare professional and patients in Europe," she added.