The comparative study met its primary endpoints and showed equivalent efficacy and comparable safety profile in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis

CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA and GUANGZHOU, China I June 01, 2021 I Biogen Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) and Bio-Thera Solutions, Ltd. (688177.SH) today announced results from the Phase 3 study of BAT1806, a proposed biosimilar referencing ACTEMRA®/RoACTEMRA® (tocilizumab). The study met its primary endpoints, demonstrating equivalence to the reference medicine in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inadequately controlled by methotrexate therapy. The primary endpoint in the study was the American College of Rheumatology 20 percent response criteria (ACR20).

ACTEMRA/RoACTEMRA’s primary indication is for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in adults as well as juvenile idiopathic polyarthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, giant cell arteritis and cytokine release syndrome. Biosimilars are products that demonstrate similar efficacy and safety to the originator’s reference product, with the advantage that they can be more affordable for patients and healthcare systems. In 2020 global sales of ACTEMRA were 2.8 billion CHF. Biogen has exclusive regulatory, manufacturing and commercial rights to BAT1806 in all countries excluding China (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan).

“We are excited about these results and believe BAT1806 demonstrates equivalence in efficacy and pharmacokinetics as well as a comparable safety and immunogenicity profile to the reference product,” said Ian Henshaw, head of global biosimilars at Biogen. “Biosimilars have the potential to generate cost savings, healthcare sustainability and, if approved, BAT1806 would enable us to bring an additional therapeutic option to patients.”

“We are pleased to report on our third proposed biosimilar with positive Phase 3 study results. These results demonstrate the potential of our proposed tocilizumab biosimilar to be a safe and effective treatment,” said Shengfeng Li, Ph.D., chief executive officer at Bio-Thera Solutions. “Bio-Thera is committed to increasing patient access to innovative medicines through the development of high-quality biosimilars.”

Biogen and Bio-Thera announced a commercialization and license agreement in April 2021 to develop, manufacture and commercialize BAT1806. As satisfactory results were met, Biogen will make a payment of $30 million to Bio-Thera Solutions. Should certain commercial milestones be achieved, Bio-Thera Solutions will be eligible to receive potential milestone payments. Biogen will also pay Bio-Thera Solutions tiered royalties.

About Biosimilars

Biosimilars are biologic products that have been demonstrated to be similar in efficacy, safety and immunogenicity to the originator’s approved reference product, with the advantage that they offer cost savings to healthcare systems. Biosimilars may lower healthcare system costs broadly, creating headroom for innovation and could enable governments to potentially redirect savings to priorities such as increasing access to transformative therapies.

About BAT1806 Phase 3 Trial Design

The BAT1806 clinical trial was a global, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, Phase 3 active-control study designed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, immunogenicity and PK of BAT1806 compared to ACTEMRA®/RoACTEMRA® in 621 patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis with inadequate response to methotrexate. More information regarding the BAT1806 Phase 3 clinical trial, including inclusion and exclusion criteria and primary and secondary outcome measures, can be found here: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT03830203

Results of the study will be presented at a future medical meeting or summarized in publication.

About Biogen

At Biogen, our mission is clear: we are pioneers in neuroscience. Biogen discovers, develops and delivers worldwide innovative therapies for people living with serious neurological and neurodegenerative diseases as well as related therapeutic adjacencies. One of the world’s first global biotechnology companies, Biogen was founded in 1978 by Charles Weissmann, Heinz Schaller, Kenneth Murray and Nobel Prize winners Walter Gilbert and Phillip Sharp. Today Biogen has the leading portfolio of medicines to treat multiple sclerosis, has introduced the first approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, commercializes biosimilars of advanced biologics and is focused on advancing research programs in multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, neuromuscular disorders, movement disorders, ophthalmology, neuropsychiatry, immunology, acute neurology and neuropathic pain.

We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.biogen.com. To learn more, please visit www.biogen.com and follow us on social media – TwitterLinkedInFacebookYouTube.

About Bio-Thera Solutions, Ltd.

Bio-Thera Solutions, Ltd., a leading commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company in Guangzhou, China, is dedicated to researching and developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, cardiovascular diseases, and other serious unmet medical needs, as well as biosimilars for existing, branded biologics to treat a range of cancer and autoimmune diseases. As a leader in the next generation antibody discovery and engineering, the company has advanced five candidates into late-stage clinical trials and one of which, QLETLI® (乐立®), a biosimilar to adalimumab, is available to patients in China. In addition, the company has multiple candidates in early clinical trials and IND-enabling studies, including differentiated and innovative anti-OX40, anti-TIGIT antibodies. For more information, please visit www.bio-thera.com/en/ or follow us on Twitter (@bio_thera_sol) and WeChat (Bio-Thera).

References:

  1. ACTEMRA® is a registered trademark of Genentech, Inc.
  2. Company reported sales

SOURCE: Biogen