LG Life Sciences on Tuesday said that it has begun phase III clinical trials for its new Humira biosimilar under development in South Korea, with plans to commercialize the drug in Korea and Japan by 2018.　The Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved the final-stage clinical trials for LBAL, LG’s Humira biosimilar on May 27, prompting the company to begin its trials, said company spokesman Park Jun-hyoung.Developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant AbbVie, Humira (adalimumab) is the world’s t

Samsung Bioepis said Monday that Flixabi, its biosimilar drug referencing Johnson & Johnson’s blockbuster rheumatoid arthritis treatment Remicade, has been approved by the European Medicines Agency.　The EMA has approved Flixabi for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis, the company said.Samsung Bioepis' headquarters in Songdo, Incheon (Samsung Bioepis)It is the second Remicade (infliximab) biosimilar

Celltrion’s Remsima leads exports, botox imports replaced by local products

U.S. approval of HM61713 expected next year, says Hanmi Pharmaceutical VP

Samsung BioLogics on Thursday said it has selected five advisers to lead its initial public offering process on Korea’s main bourse KOSPI.They include a mix of Korean and foreign investment banks including Korea Investment Securities, NH Investment & Securities, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan and Credit Suisse.The Samsung BioLogics headquarters in Songdo, Incheon (Samsung BioLogics)Korea Investment Securities will represent the Korean investment banks while Citi will represent the foreign side, Samsung

Green Cross Corp., a listed Korean pharmaceutical company, said Thursday that it plans issue three and five-year bonds worth some 100 billion won ($86 million) to finance its expansion overseas.The company’s bond underwriter NH Investment & Securities will evaluate the value of the bonds graded AA minus through a book building process next week. Its bond issues mark the first time for the company to raise funds in the local capital market.“The proceeds will be used for its expansion in the advan

Green Cross, a Korean biopharmaceutical company, said Wednesday it presented the successful clinical trial results of a novel treatment for hepatitis B under development, GC1102, at a medical conference in Seoul last week.　The company highlighted the results of ongoing phase II clinical trials on its new drug at this year’s International Liver Transplantation Society meeting.Green Cross delivers a presentation at a symposium held on May 6 as part of this year’s International Liver Transplantatio

Samsung BioLogics is scheduled to begin producing biosimilar drugs developed by its affiliate Samsung Bioepis, as the two have entered a production partnership, the companies said Tuesday.Samsung BioLogics confirmed to The Korea Herald that it has “recently sealed a production partnership with Samsung Bioepis.” It declined to offer further details about the deal, including its size and timing, citing regulatory compliance.The Samsung BioLogics headquarters in Songdo, Incheon (Samsung BioLogics)S

Celltrion has offered the least amount in charitable donations among Korea’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies last year, data showed Sunday.According to its audit report filed with the Financial Supervisory Service, Celltrion donated a total of 18.9 million won ($16,390) last year, equivalent to about 0.003 percent of its revenue of 603.4 billion won.(Yonhap)The data shows Celltrion lagging in the area of corporate social responsibility despite being the most-watched company in the field, followi

South Korean biosimilar developer Samsung Bioepis has filed a lawsuit against the original maker of the world’s top-selling rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira (adalimumab), to make way for the market debut of its Humira biosimilar.　The Samsung Group affiliate and its partner and minority shareholder Biogen filed a suit in the U.K. on Mar. 24 challenging a number of patents held by U.S. pharmaceuticals giant AbbVie on Humira. It is the U.S. firm’s top-valued drug, having generated sales of $14 bill

South Korean drug manufacturer Samsung Bioepis will be launching its second biosimilar product, Renflexis, in Korea at 363,530 won ($315) per box.Its price is about 5 percent cheaper than Remicade -- a product made by Janssen that provided the reference for Renflexi -- but similar to rival Celltrion’s Remsima.Renflexis will hit local markets in June, according to MSD Korea, which is responsible for the marketing and distribution of Renflexis. The drug was approved by the Korean Ministry of Food