Pharma major Lupin plans to launch its flagship biosimilar drug, Etarnecept along with its collaborator Mylan in Europe in July 2020.  Lupin had announced its partnership with Mylan to commercialize Lupin's etanercept biosimilar in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Africa and most markets throughout Asia, last year. Etarnecept is a TNF-inhibitor1 indicated to treat certain autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Recently, Lupin received full approval to manufacture and sell YLB113, the biosimilar etanercept product, in Japan. The product is Lupin’s first biosimilar to come to the Japanese market.

Dr Cyrus Karkaria, President, Biotech division, Lupin said, “After significant investment in our biotechnology division over the years, this is the first biosimilar for regulated markets developed in-house at Lupin and the first etanercept biosimilar developed by an Indian pharmaceutical player. It is an important achievement for us that sets the tone for future biosimilar development. We are planning to launch the product in Europe very soon. We are in the final stages of the approval process.”

Around the same time, the company is also exploring the US market. “We are taking it cautiously and are studying the market carefully to see which drugs from our pipeline will work in the US market. We are also looking actively for collaborator for the US to understand when we take the leap”, added Dr Karkaria.