Samsung Bioepis launches ARMD biosimilar drug in Germany, Canada

Samsung Bioepis Co., a South Korean biosimilar firm, announced on Sunday that it has recently launched a new biosimilar drug called SB11 for the treatment of eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), in Germany and Canada.

The drug was released on Feb. 23 in Germany and on Mar. 1 in Canada, and local sales are being handled by US-based multinational biotech company Biogen Inc.

SB11 is a biosimilar of Lucentis, a drug developed by global pharmaceutical company Genentech. It is marketed under the name Byooviz in Europe and the US, and Amelivu in Korea. It was released in Korea in January last year and in the United States in June last year, with sales in the US reaching $4.3 million.

Samsung Bioepis aims to expand the availability of SB11 in other European countries as well.

"We will establish a competitive edge in the ophthalmic disease treatment biosimilar market by proactively launching the drug," said a company official.

Write to Jeong Min Nam at peux@hankyung.com