Mundipharma associate launches Remsima in UK and preps for wider roll out

25-Feb-2015 - Last updated on 24-Aug-2016 at 09:45 GMT

Remsima's European roll out continues

Mundipharma’s associate Napp Pharmaceuticals launched Celltrion’s Remicade biosimilar Remisma in the UK today, just 24 hours after the originator lost patent protection.

Mundipharma and its associates has also rolled out the drug out in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg in the past few weeks, under an exclusive distribution license.

A spokesman told BioPharma-Reporter.com “we have successfully launched many products in many countries within a short period and we are not daunted by launching Remsima in multiple markets in a single month.”

He explained that, as with the earlier launches, for the UK roll out “the product will be transported to the markets in which Mundipharma has distribution rights to arrive after the patent and supplementary products certificates have expired.”

Mundipharma also has deals with third party logistics companies employed to transport Remisma in termperature controlled conditions and – according to the spokesman – “the product is held in cold storage facilities in Europe as required.”

Inflectra competition

Remsima is a biosimilar version of Remicade (infliximab) which is sold by Janssen in the US, Merck & Co in Europe and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma in Japan.

The monoclonal antibody (mAb) – which is used to treat autoimmune disorders - was one of several biosimilars licensed by Hospira in 2009.

The US drugmaker already sells in 24 European countries as Inflectra which means that Remsima and Inflectra are both available in several Euroepan markets.

Celltrion told us that: “A two-brand strategy for the same product is not uncommon in the industry. Due to marketing matters, including cultural differences and different distributors in local markets, pharmaceutical companies use multiple brand names catering to local needs.“

Mundipharma declined to say how it will compete with Hospira’s ‘rival’ product, but did cite its structure as a key part of its plan to sell the drug.

“What sets us apart is that our independent associated companies have the autonomy to develop innovative services to improve access and user experience that are tailored to the needs of their specific markets.”