K-bio names speed up biosim development for macular degeneration

[Source : Samsung Bioepis]

South Korean biosimilar developers are speeding up the development of eye disease treatment to meet surging demand for affordable copy drugs amid increasing elderly population worldwide.

As the number of patients with macular degeneration is on the rise, they focus on the development of vision-threatening age-related macular degeneration. According to market tracker GlobalData, the market for wet macular degeneration is expected to reach about 24 trillion won ($19 billion) in nine major countries, including the United States, by 2028.

Samsung Bioepis and Chong Kun Dang’s Lucentis (ranibizumab) biosimilars will be added to the reimbursement listing for health insurance in Korea starting next year, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Thursday.

Lucentis is a macular degeneration treatment that works by suppressing cellular production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thus inhibiting new blood vessel growth. The drug’s worldwide sales for last year came to about 4 trillion won.

Samsung Bioepis’ ranibizumab biosimilar (SB11) has an upper price limit of 463,773 won per vial, while Chong Kun Dang’s CKD-701 has an upper price limit of 300,000 won, 50 to 60 percent cheaper than their original drug Lucentis, which has a price cap of 820,636 won.

Korean companies are also developing a biosimilar version of Eylia, whose U.S. patent expires in June next year. Eylea is also a treatment for macular degeneration that inhibits VEGF. This product generated sales of about 12 trillion won worldwide last year alone.

Samsung Bioepis completed phase 3 clinical trials for its Eylia biosimilar SB15 in March. Samsung Bioepis and Germany’s Formycon are the only two companies developing both Lucentis and Eylia biosimilars.

Another Korean biosimilar developer Celltrion is currently conducting phase 3 clinical trials for its Eylia biosimilar CT-P42 in Europe. The clinical trials are expected to be completed in April next year.