Novartis division Sandoz has entered into an agreement to commercialize a proposed trastuzumab biosimilar with Taiwanese biotech manufacturer and developer EirGenix. This medicine is currently in Phase III clinical development for treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast and specific gastric cancer tumors.
The agreement between aims to bring to market a proposed biosimilar trastuzumab. EirGenix will maintain responsibility for development and manufacturing, and Sandoz has the right to commercialize the medicine upon approval in all markets excluding China and Taiwan.
According to the terms of the agreement, EirGenix will receive an upfront payment on signing, milestone payments, and is entitled to receive profit share payments for sales in the territories. The collaboration expands the existing Sandoz oncology portfolio of four oncology biosimilar medicines.
According to Sandoz, approximately 300,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer every year.
Read the full Sandoz release.