Sandoz moves forward with development of biosimilar rituximab, Roche's blockbuster RA drug

11 January 2011

Sandoz, the generics unit of Swiss drug major Novartis (NOVN: VX) Sandoz says that it has begun a Phase II clinical trial in patients for biosimilar rituximab - marketed by Roche (ROG: VX) as Rituxan/MabThera, a leading monoclonal antibody indicated in conditions including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Phase II study in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis aims to demonstrate bioequivalence to the reference product, and will collect data on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics as well as efficacy and safety data.

Roche to defend its biotech drugs

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free. A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Try before you buy

Free

7 day trial access

Take a Free Trial

All the news that moves the needle in pharma and biotech
Exclusive features, podcasts, interviews, data analyses and commentary from our global network of life sciences reporters.
Receive The Pharma Letter daily news bulletin, free forever.

Become a subscriber

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now

Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription

The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK