REYKJAVIK, ICELAND, PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY AND LONDON, UK (March 26, 2025) — Alvotech (NASDAQ: ALVO), a global biotech company specializing in the development and manufacturing of biosimilar medicines for patients worldwide, Kashiv Biosciences LLC (“Kashiv”), a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New Jersey, US, and ADVANZ PHARMA, a UK-headquartered global pharmaceutical company with a strategic focus on specialty, hospital, and rare disease medicines, today announced that the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has accepted a marketing application for AVT23, a proposed biosimilar to Xolair® (omalizumab), a biologic indicated for treatment of severe persistent allergic asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Global sales of Xolair in 2024 were about USD $4.4 billion [1].
“This represents an important step in the development of our proposed biosimilar to Xolair, with the key goal to increase patient access to an important biologic,” said Joseph McClellan, Chief Scientific Officer of Alvotech.
“At Kashiv, we are committed to developing high-quality, cost-effective therapies. The successful acceptance by MHRA of the marketing authorization for AVT23 reflects our dedication to innovation and improving access to vital biosimilars on a global scale,” said Dr. Sandeep Athalye, Global CEO of Kashiv Biosciences.
Dr Nick Warwick, Chief Medical Officer of ADVANZ PHARMA, stated, "This achievement marks a significant step in expanding treatment options for patients and reinforces ADVANZ PHARMA's dedication to enhancing access to specialty, hospital, and rare disease medications.”
Alvotech and ADVANZ PHARMA announced in February 2023 that the companies had entered into a commercialization agreement for AVT23. In May 2023, the partners announced an expansion of the strategic partnership, to include five additional biosimilar candidates under development by Alvotech. Alvotech and Kashiv announced in October 2023 that the companies had entered into a licensing agreement for AVT23.
About AVT23
AVT23 is a proposed biosimilar to Xolair® (omalizumab). Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets free immunoglobulin E (IgE). Xolair, which contains omalizumab, is indicated for severe persistent allergic asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) [2]. AVT23 is an investigational product and has not received regulatory approval in any country. Biosimilarity has not been established by regulatory authorities and is not claimed.
Sources
[1] Financial Reports from Roche Group and Novartis
[2] MHRA Product Information for Xolair®
Use of trademarks
Xolair is a registered trademark of Novartis AG.
About ADVANZ PHARMA
Partner of choice in specialty, hospital, and rare disease medicines
ADVANZ PHARMA is a global pharmaceutical company with the purpose to improve patients’ lives by providing and enhancing the specialty, hospital, and rare disease medicines they depend on. Our headquarters are in London, UK. We have commercial sales in more than 90 countries globally and have a direct commercial presence in more than 20 countries, including key countries in Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia, a Centre of Excellence in Mumbai, India, as well as an established global distribution and commercialisation partner network. ADVANZ PHARMA’s product portfolio and pipeline comprises innovative medicines, specialty generics & biosimilars, and originator brands. Our products cover a broad range of therapeutic areas, including hepatology, gastroenterology, anti-infectives, critical care, endocrinology, oncology, CNS, and, more broadly, rare disease medicines. Our ambition is to be a partner of choice for the commercialisation of specialty, hospital, and rare disease medicines in Europe, Canada, and Australia. In line with our ambition, we are partnering with biopharma and development companies to bring medicines to patients. We can only achieve this due to our dedicated and highly qualified employees, acting in line with our company values of entrepreneurship, speed, and integrity.
For more information, please visit our Website or LinkedIn.
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Courtney Baines
ADVANZ PHARMA
Tel: +44 7776 516979 Email: courtney.baines@advanzpharma.com