• Biosimilar Hyrimoz^® (adalimumab) citrate-free high-concentration formulation (HCF) is now approved in the EU for use in all indications of reference medicine Humira^®*
   
• HCF formulation adalimumab offers patients enhanced yet familiar experience through increased convenience and reduced injection volume
   
• Approval further solidifies expansion of Sandoz biosimilar immunology portfolio in Europe

Basel, April 3, 2023 — Sandoz, a global leader in off-patent (generic and biosimilar) medicines, today announced that the European Commission (EC) granted marketing authorization in the European Union (EU) for a citrate-free high concentration formulation (HCF; 100 mg/mL) of its biosimilar Hyrimoz^® (adalimumab).

The approval includes all indications covered by the reference medicine*: rheumatic diseases, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, uveitis and hidradenitis suppurativa.¹

“Living with a chronic disease can take a significant toll on a patient’s quality of life. Biosimilars help patients to gain broader access to effective and high-quality treatments that improve their disease therapies,” said Rebecca Guntern, Head of Region Europe, Sandoz.

“With eight marketed biosimilars Sandoz is offering the broadest biosimilar portfolio and is the leading biosimilars company in Europe with more than two decades of experience. Today’s approval brings Sandoz one step closer to providing European patients with chronic conditions an additional treatment option that offers increased convenience and a reduction in injection volume.” 

The adalimumab citrate-free HCF (100 mg/mL) formulation offers a 50 percent reduction in injection volume compared to the 50 mg/ml concentration and potentially decreases the number of injections required for patients who need 80 mg/mL or higher dosing. The HCF formulation is presented in the same auto-injector as currently available to patients, aiming for an enhanced yet familiar patient experience.

As part of the comprehensive submission package to the European Marketing Authorization, Sandoz conducted a Phase I pharmacokinetics (PK) bridging study comparing its approved adalimumab 50 mg/mL² with the 100 mg/mL (HCF). The study met all its primary objectives, demonstrating comparable pharmacokinetics and showing similar safety and immunogenicity between the two concentrations.

Recently, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also approved the citrate-free HCF of Hyrimoz^® (adalimumab-adaz) injection. 

Sandoz is committed to helping millions of patients sustainably and affordably access critical and potentially life-changing biologic medicines across a range of areas including immunology, oncology, supportive care and endocrinology. It has a leading global portfolio with eight marketed biosimilars and a further 15+ in various stages of development. Since launching the first biosimilar in Europe in 2006, Sandoz has proven biosimilars create early and expanded patient access to life-altering medicines while increasing healthcare savings and creating competition that fuels innovation and development of new and enhanced treatments in areas of unmet need.

About adalimumab
Adalimumab is a human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG(1)) monoclonal antibody targeting tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a). The adalimumab reference medicine (Humira^®*) was first approved with an adalimumab concentration of 50 mg/mL.¹ In 2015, the EMA and US FDA approved Humira^® HCF, which contains adalimumab at a concentration of 100 mg/mL.

Disclaimer 
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as “potential,” “can,” “will,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “look forward,” “believe,” “committed,” “investigational,” “pipeline,” “launch,” or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Neither can there be any guarantee that, if approved, such generic or biosimilar products will be approved for all indications included in the reference product’s label. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; competition in general, including potential approval of additional generic or biosimilar versions of such products; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; litigation outcomes, including intellectual property disputes or other legal efforts to prevent or limit Sandoz from selling its products; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG’s current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

References

1. EMA. Humira® EPAR Product Information. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/humira. [Accessed February 2023]
2. EMA. Hyrimoz® EPAR Product Information. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/hyrimoz. [Accessed February 2023]

*Humira^® is a registered trademark of AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd

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About Sandoz
Sandoz, a Novartis division, is a global leader in generic pharmaceuticals and biosimilars. Our purpose is to pioneer access for patients by developing and commercializing novel, affordable approaches that address unmet medical needs. Our ambition is to be the world’s leading and most valued generics company. Our broad portfolio of high-quality medicines, covering major therapeutic areas, accounted for 2022 sales of USD 9.2 billion.

Sandoz on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sandoz
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandoz_global
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandozglobal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandozglobal

CEO Richard Saynor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-saynor/ 

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