Remsima is licensed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of a range of inflammatory autoimmune conditions including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

This latest news follows an announcement from Hospira that is would double the presence of its infliximab biosimilar Inflectra in Europe, which will now be marketed in 24 European countries [1].

Remsima and Inflectra are manufactured by South Korean firm Celltrion, and will now be in competition with Johnson & Johnson and Merck branded drug Remicade. Remicade is a monoclonal antibody against the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a). The patents on Remicade expired in Europe in February 2015, and will expire in the US in September 2018 [2].

Mundipharma will market Remsima in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and the UK.  Hospira will market Inflectra in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.

Savings generated by introducing competition in the marketplace could save the European healthcare system millions of Euros, with biosimilars expected to produce savings of over Euros 20 billion by 2020 [3].

Remsima is already proving its worth in Norway, where it has been used since January 2014. ‘It’s our drug of choice when starting a new Crohn’s or colitis patient on a biologic[al], and has already enabled the Norwegian healthcare system to make considerable savings’, says Jørgen Jahnsen, Professor of Medicine and Gastroenterology at the University of Oslo. Professor Jahnsen has used Remsima in 70 patients and found it comparable to Remicade in terms of both efficacy and safety.

Related articles
Biosimilar infliximab receives approval in Japan and Turkey 

Celltrion files infliximab patent lawsuit in US

Alvogen launches infliximab biosimilar in Europe

References
1.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Hospira launches infliximab biosimilar in major European markets [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2015 Mar 20]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Hospira-launches-infliximab-biosimilar-in-major-European-markets
2.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars of infliximab [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2015 Mar 20]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-of-infliximab
3.   Haustein R, de Millas C, Höer A, Häussler, B. Saving money in the European healthcare systems with biosimilars. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal (GaBI Journal). 2012;1(3-4).120-6. doi:10.5639/gabij.2012.0103-4.036

Permission granted to reproduce for personal and non-commercial use only. All other reproduction, copy or reprinting of all or part of any ‘Content’ found on this website is strictly prohibited without the prior consent of the publisher. Contact the publisher to obtain permission before redistributing.

Copyright – Unless otherwise stated all contents of this website are © 2015 Pro Pharma Communications International. All Rights Reserved.