Alvotech , a global biotech company specializing in the development and manufacture of biosimilar medicines for patients worldwide and Advanz Pharma, a UK headquartered global pharmaceutical company with a strategic focus on specialty, hospital, and rare disease medicines in Europe, today announced that the companies have entered into an agreement to expand their commercial partnership to cover three additional biosimilar candidates.

The new agreement covers the supply and commercialization in Europe of biosimilar candidates to Ilaris^® (canakinumab), a human antibody interleukin-1β blocker indicated for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases, and Kesimpta^® (ofatumumab), a CD20-directed cytolytic antibody indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, in addition to a third undisclosed biosimilar candidate. Alvotech will be responsible for development and commercial supply and Advanz Pharma will be responsible for registration and commercialization in Europe. The agreement includes development and commercial milestones for the three products, totaling up to US$180 million at current exchange rates (EUR 160 million). In addition, the partners will participate in a revenue share.

"We are very pleased to expand our partnership with Advanz Pharma. We now have agreed to launch proposed biosimilars to more than ten reference products in Europe, starting in 2025 and reaching beyond 2030. This new agreement demonstrates the business development potential and value of Alvotech’s growing biosimilars pipeline, that is unrivalled by any other biosimilars developer,” said Róbert Wessman, chairman and CEO of Alvotech.

“By adding canakinumab, ofatumumab and another early-stage program to our strategic partnership with Alvotech, Advanz Pharma now holds European commercial rights to proposed biosimilars referencing more than ten originator biologics. Importantly, two of these three new candidates address rare-disease indications, reinforcing our commitment to broaden access to rare disease and specialty medicines. Biosimilars are a cornerstone of our growth strategy and this expanded collaboration positions us to deliver sustainable value for patients and healthcare systems alike,” said Steffen Wagner, CEO, Advanz Pharma.

Alvotech and Advanz Pharma previously entered into partnership agreements, signed in 2023, to commercialize proposed biosimilars to Xolair^® (omalizumab), Simponi^® (golimumab), Entyvio^® (vedolizumab), Eylea^® (aflibercept) and Eylea^® HD (aflibercept), Dupixent^® (dupilumab), Taltz^® (ixekizumab) and Tremfya^® (guselkumab). The supply and commercialization agreements cover all 30 member countries of the European Economic Area, as well as the UK and Switzerland. For omalizumab, the agreement additionally includes Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. According to IQVIA, the current addressable market for the proposed biosimilars covered by the partnership agreements between Alvotech and Advanz Pharma in the countries in scope is now at least US$13.8bn.