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EU Endorses Copy of Enbrel Arthritis Drug From Samsung, Biogen
Economic Times (India) (11/21/15)
In late November, experts from the European Medicines Agency backed a biosimilar version of Amgen's biotech drug Enbrel. This makes Samsung Bioepis's version of the drug, scientifically known as etanercept, the second biosimilar antibody medicine to win approval from European regulators. The biosimilar's approval must still be formally ratified by the European Commission. Europe has been faster to adopt biosimilars than the United States. These alternatives could provide savings to healthcare systems and competition to the makers of the original products. Antibody drugs are a popular target for biosimilar developers because the original versions are profitable sellers. Worldwide sales of Enbrel totaled $9 billion in 2014. Samsung Bioepis' copy will be marketed under the brand name Benepali.
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