Abzena and UGA Biopharma target copycat of blockbuster MS drug

London-listed biotech services firm Abzena and Germany’s UGA Biopharma have announced the completion of a biosimilar cell line to treat multiple sclerosis (MS).

While the companies did not disclose the reference product, it was said to be currently in use as an MS treatment, with global sales of approximately $1.9 billion in 2016.

UGA will join an expanding field of companies looking to capitalise on the patent expiry of several blockbuster drugs over the coming years.

MS affects approximately 400,000 people in the USA and 2.5 million worldwide, and relapsing remitting is the most common form.