Biogen Inc. has entered a new transaction with Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. to secure the exclusive rights to commercialize two new ophthalmology biosimilars, SB11 referencing Lucentis and SB15 referencing Eylea, in major markets worldwide. Biogen will also acquire exclusive commercialization rights for its anti-TNF portfolio, including BENEPALI (etanercept), FLIXABI (infliximab) and IMRALDI (adalimumab), in China. Biogen will acquire an option to extend its existing commercial agreement with Samsung Bioepis for this anti-TNF portfolio in Europe.

Lucentis and Eylea are therapies widely used to treat ophthalmologic conditions such as neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO), diabetic macular edema (DME) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with DME. In 2018 global sales for Lucentis and Eylea were almost $11 billion.  
      
“We are excited about the potential to bring biosimilars to a new therapeutic area as well as new regions around the world with the goal of sustainably advancing broad access to care for patients in need,” said Michel Vounatsos, Biogen’s chief executive officer. “This transaction would expand the potential for our leading biosimilars business worldwide, while complementing Biogen’s presence in ophthalmology.”
                                                   
Chirfi Guindo, executive vice president and head of Global Product Strategy and Commercialization at Biogen, added “We believe savings enabled by biosimilars provide payers and health systems globally the budgetary headroom to fund innovation. According to a 2017 RAND Report, in the U.S. alone savings generated from biosimilar uptake could reach as high as $150 billion over a ten-year period5. We look forward to expanding our biosimilars portfolio in major markets worldwide.”

Under the terms of the proposed transaction, Biogen will make a $100 million upfront payment to Samsung Bioepis. Additionally, Biogen may pay Samsung Bioepis up to $210 million in additional development, regulatory and sales-based milestones. Samsung Bioepis will be responsible for development and will supply both products to Biogen at a pre-specified gross margin.
Biogen will also obtain an option to extend the term of its current European commercial agreement for its three anti-TNF biosimilars by an additional five years, subject to payment of an option exercise fee of $60 million.

Biogen will also receive exclusive commercialization rights to BENEPALI, FLIXABI and IMRALDI in China in exchange for a royalty on sales in that market.
The proposed transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, and expected to close in 4Q19.