Oncobiologics and InVentive Health Clinical Form Biosimilars Pact

The biopharmaceutical company, Oncobiologics and the CRO InVentiv Health Clinical have formed a partnership around clinical development for all assets in Oncobiologic’s pipeline. The global partnership will initially focus on biosimilar assets and could be expanded to include innovative molecules. Through the partnership, InVentiv Health Clinical will provide clinical studies as well as the corresponding bioanalytical support for those trials.

The current biosimilar assets include generic versions of Humira (adalimumab), Rituxan (rituximab), Avastin (bevacizumab), Herceptin (trastuzumab), and Erbitux (cetuxumab).

This is the third biosimilar agreement Oncobiologics has formed this year. In May, the company partnered with Zhejiany Huahai Pharmaceutical, a Chinese pharmaceutical company focused on small-molecule drugs, for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of biosimilar monoclonal antibody products. The agreement includes exclusive commercialization by Huahai of four biosimilars developed by Oncobiologics and manufactured in China at a Huahai biologics facility for the Chinese market. It will also establish a co-development and commercialization partnership for launching such biosimilars to more than 30 developed countries, including the US, EU, Japan, Canada, and Australia. Also, in February 2013,  Oncibiologics partnered with Viropro, in a biosimilar pact. Viropro will have the rights to manufacture six monoclonal antibody products being developed by Oncobiologics for commercialization in more than 70 emerging market countries (excluding China).