Spectrum Pharma links with Viropro to develop biosimilar of Roche blockbuster drug rituximab; FDA expands use of Roche's Actemra

6 January 2011

USA-based biotech firm Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SPPI) says that it has signed a letter of agreement with Viropro (VPRO: OTC US) for the development of a biosimilar version of the monoclonal antibody drug rituximab - marketed by Swiss drug major Roche (ROG: VX) and its US subsidiary Genentech as MabThera and Rituxan.

Worldwide sales of rituximab in 2009 in all indications, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis, were around $5.6 billion and 4.2 billion Swiss francs ($4.52 billion) in the first nine months of 2010.

“We are excited at the opportunity to develop our own proprietary biosimilar formulation of rituximab in anticipation of patent expirations for rituximab over the coming years,” said Rajesh Shrotriya, chairman, chief executive and president of Spectrum.

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