- Approval of SELARSDI 130 mg/26 mL in a single-dose vial for intravenous infusion expands label to include treatment of adults with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- The FDA previously approved SELARSDI 45 mg/0.5 mL and 90 mg/mL in a single-dose prefilled syringe for subcutaneous injection in April 2024
- SELARSDI’s U.S. launch for all indications is expected in Q1 2025
REYKJAVIK, Iceland & PARSIPPANY, N.J., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alvotech (NASDAQ: ALVO) and Teva Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved SELARSDI (ustekinumab-aekn) in a new presentation, 130 mg/26 mL (5 mg/mL) solution in a single-dose vial for intravenous infusion. This approval paves the way for SELARSDI to further align its label with the indications of the reference product Stelara® (ustekinumab) in the U.S. at launch, which is expected in the first quarter of 2025.
“We welcome this step which is fully in line with our plan to align the SELARSDI label with the indications of the reference product, prior to launch next year,” said Robert Wessman, Chairman and CEO of Alvotech. “We are looking forward to the U.S. launch, after very successful launches of the first biosimilar ustekinumab in Canada, Japan and Europe. This demonstrates our commitment to increasing availability and access to ustekinumab, and other biosimilars in our growing pipeline, for patients worldwide.”
“We are thrilled with the expansion of SELARSDI's indications, marking another significant milestone in Teva’s commitment to increasing access to biosimilars in the U.S.,” said Thomas Rainey, Senior Vice President, U.S. Biosimilars. “This development allows us to serve patients battling gastrointestinal diseases as the U.S. launch of SELARSDI approaches in early 2025. Teva’s dedication to increasing uptake of biosimilars remains steadfast, and we are proud to continue this partnership with Alvotech across a portfolio of nine partnered products.”
In April 2024, the FDA approved SELARSDI 45 mg/0.5 mL and 90 mg/mL injection in a prefilled syringe for subcutaneous use, for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and for active psoriatic arthritis in adults and pediatric patients 6 years and older. In June 2023, Alvotech and Teva announced that they had reached a settlement and license agreement with the manufacturer of the reference biologic, granting a license entry date for SELARSDI in the United States no later than February 21, 2025.
Alvotech developed and produces SELARSDI using Sp2/0 cells and a continuous perfusion process, which are the same type of host cell line and process used in the production of the reference product Stelara.1
Ustekinumab is a human monoclonal antibody that selectively targets the p40 protein, a component common to both interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 cytokines, which play crucial roles in treating immune-mediated diseases like psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
In August 2020, Alvotech and Teva entered into a strategic partnership for the exclusive commercialization of five of Alvotech’s biosimilar product candidates, including SELARSDI. The partnership has since expanded and now includes a total of nine products. Alvotech handles development and manufacturing using its purpose-built end-to-end platform, while Teva is responsible for commercialization in the U.S., which leverages Teva’s experience and extensive sales and marketing infrastructure. Two biosimilars developed under the partnership have been given FDA approval: SELARSDI, and in February 2024, the FDA approved SIMLANDI® (adalimumab-ryvk), the first high-concentration, citrate-free interchangeable biosimilar to Humira® (adalimumab). SIMLANDI was launched in the U.S. in May 2024.
About SIMLANDI® (adalimumab-ryvk)
SIMLANDI is a monoclonal antibody and has been approved as a biosimilar to Humira® (adalimumab) in over 50 countries globally, including the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. The biosimilar is currently marketed in the U.S. as SIMLANDI and under private label as adalimumab-ryvk, in Europe as HUKYNDRA, in Canada as SIMLANDI and in Australia as ADALACIP. Applications are also under review in multiple countries globally.
About SELARSDI™ (ustekinumab-aekn)
SELARSDI is a monoclonal antibody and a biosimilar to Stelara® (ustekinumab). Ustekinumab binds to two cytokines, IL-12 and IL-23, that are involved in inflammatory and immune responses.2 The biosimilar has been launched in Canada as JAMTEKI, in Europe as UZPRUVO and in Japan as USTEKINUMAB BS (F). It has been approved in the U.S. as SELARSDI. Applications are also under review in multiple countries globally.
Use of Trademarks
Stelara® is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson. Humira® is a registered trademark of AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd.
About Alvotech
Alvotech is a biotech company, founded by Robert Wessman, focused solely on the development and manufacture of biosimilar medicines for patients worldwide. Alvotech seeks to be a global leader in the biosimilar space by delivering high quality, cost-effective products, and services, enabled by a fully integrated approach and broad in-house capabilities. Two biosimilars to Humira® (adalimumab) and Stelara® (ustekinumab) are already approved and marketed in multiple global markets. The current development pipeline includes nine disclosed biosimilar candidates aimed at treating autoimmune disorders, eye disorders, osteoporosis, respiratory disease, and cancer. Alvotech has formed a network of strategic commercial partnerships to provide global reach and leverage local expertise in markets that include the United States, Europe, Japan, China, and other Asian countries and large parts of South America, Africa and the Middle East. Alvotech’s commercial partners include Teva Pharmaceuticals, a US affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (US), STADA Arzneimittel AG (EU), Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd (Japan), Advanz Pharma (EEA, UK, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), Dr. Reddy’s (EEA, UK and US), Biogaran (FR), Cipla/Cipla Gulf/Cipla Med Pro (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa/Africa), JAMP Pharma Corporation (Canada), Yangtze River Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. (China), DKSH (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan), YAS Holding LLC (Middle East and North Africa), Abdi Ibrahim (Turkey), Kamada Ltd. (Israel), Mega Labs, Stein, Libbs, Tuteur and Saval (Latin America) and Lotus Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, and South Korea). Each commercial partnership covers a unique set of product(s) and territories. Except as specifically set forth therein, Alvotech disclaims responsibility for the content of periodic filings, disclosures and other reports made available by its partners.
About Teva
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) is a global pharmaceutical leader with a category-defying portfolio, harnessing our generics expertise and stepping up innovation to continue the momentum behind the discovery, delivery, and expanded development of modern medicine. For over 120 years, Teva's commitment to bettering health has never wavered. Today, the company’s global network of capabilities enables its 37,000 employees across 58 markets to push the boundaries of scientific innovation and deliver quality medicines to help improve health outcomes of millions of patients every day.