After launching Bevacizumab for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, Pune-based Enzene Biosciences has now followed it up with the launch of Ranibizumab, a biosimilar to innovator product Lucentis® that is sold under the brand name Accentrix® in India.

A recombinant antigen-binding fragment (Fab) that is used as a therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the Ranibizumab biosimilar is the company’s 7th biosimilar and could significantly lower treatment costs for thousands of Indian patients.

As established in Phase 3 clinical studies, Enzene’s Ranibizumab biosimilar showed comparative clinical efficacy with Lucentis® and is produced using the company’s state-of-the-art MAR system at its plant in Chakan, Pune.

Speaking on the launch of its 7th biosimilar in the Indian market, Dr Himanshu Gadgil, CEO, Enzene Biosciences said, “Prior to Ranibizumab, our teams have successfully delivered six commercial biosimilars and supported our partners with clinical supplies of novel biologic entities (NBE’s), such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and multi-specific molecules."

Enzene’s Ranibizumab matches competitors in terms of product purity and is designed to bind and inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), thereby interrupting the interaction of VEGF with its receptors. This is extremely important in treating patients with macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO), diabetic macular edema as well as neovascular AMD since VEGF is the biochemical signal protein that promotes angiogenesis throughout the eye and other parts of the body.

In addition to its recent releases, Enzene is actively progressing with the development of three additional biosimilars in various stages. Furthermore, the company is in alliance with UK-based pharmaceutical firm Theramex to launch a biosimilar of Prolia® in Europe, UK, Australia and Switzerland.

The company is also developing a synthetic peptide pipeline and is focused on supplementing its manufacturing capabilities, with plans to expand into key international markets like the USA, at a rapid pace.