SEOUL - As part of its bid to stretch out for more global sales for a range of antibody therapeutic biosimilars, Celltrion has signed a deal with Perrigo to market its products in Israel.

"Under the master service agreement with us, Perrigo will - for coming ten years - be able to sell eight biosimilars we are developing now," Kim Yong-Joong, Celltrion's strategic planning assistant manager and spokesman, told PharmAsiaNews.

"The two sides will sign more detailed and separate contracts for sales of each of the eight biosimilar, but today's contract stipulates that our first biosimilar CT-P6 will be sold in the form of Initial Safety Stock."

"In view of the regional characteristics of Israel, our biosimilars will be sold in Israel through Perrigo while they will be sold in the Middle East through a different network," Kim said. "With the establishment of the Israeli sales network with Perrigo, we have virtually completed the establishment of our sales outfits in both advanced and developing countries."

Celltrion has been developing a total of eight or nine blockbuster antibody therapeutic biosimilars in line with its bid to launch three biosimilars in markets not protected with patent rights. Celltrion is moving to globally launch the biosimilars around 2011.

The three products are biosimilars of Roche's oncology agent Herceptin (trastuzumab), Johnson & Johnson's rheumatoid arthritis agent Remicade (infliximab) and Imclone and Bristol Myers Squibb's oncology drug Erbitux (cetuximab) (Also see "Korean Celltrion Gears Up To Produce Biosimilar Herceptin, Remicade, Erbitux; Proposes Barter System In Developing Regions" - Scrip, 2 July, 2009.).

Celltrion to Start Clinical Trials in Philippines for Johnson & Johnson's Rheumatoid Arthritis Remicade Biosimilar

In a related development, Celltrion said it has obtained an approval from Philippines FDA for the clinical trials of its biosimilar of Johnson & Johnson's rheumatoid arthritis agent Remicade (infliximab).

Initiated with the approval for the clinical trials in Philippines, Kim said Celltrion will soon move to do more clinical trials in Korea, in Europe and in other parts of the world of the biosimilar product.

Celltrion is trying to license out the sales rights or copyrights on the three biosimilars to pharmas in 14 developing countries including China, India and South America under what it calls a "multinational pool center system."

Celltrion has secured an approval from EU member Latvia to perform clinical trials for its Herceptin biosimilar as part of its effort to prepare for the expiration of Roche's patent rights on the product in 2019 in Europe and the U.S. (Also see "Korea's Celltrion Gains Foothold in Europe; Wins Clinical Trial Approval from Latvia For Herceptin Biosimilar" - Scrip, 7 January, 2010.).

Along with Latvia, Celltrion is preparing for inroads into other EU countries such as Finland, Ireland and Portugal as it tries to meet the EMEA guidelines.

In addition to Celltrion, several other South Korean companies - Greencross, Daewoong Pharmaceutical, Yuhan, Hanhwa, Samsung and LG Group - are steadily moving to stake out a solid position in the biosimilar sector in Korea (PharmAsia News, May 21, 2009).

- Peter Chang (p.chang@elsevier.com)

Korea's Celltrion Cuts Deal With Perrigo To Sell Its Biosimilars In Israel

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