Lupin, Nichi-Iko to commercialise arthritis biosimilar in Japan

Etanercept is used in treatment of auto immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

Lupin Pharmaceuticals and Japan's Nichi-Iko have entered into a distribution, promotion and sale tie-up for Lupin's biosimilar Etanercept in Japan. Lupin had filed for this rheumatoid arthritis biosimilar recently. 

Biosimilars are copies of innovative biologic drugs and are made from living cells.

It has been developed by YL Biologics, a joint venture of Lupin Atlantis Holdings SA (LAHSA), a subsidiary of Mumbai-headquartered Lupin, and Yoshindo. Etanercept is used in the treatment of auto immune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis among others. 

Nichi-Iko would launch the product after receiving approval from the Japanese regulator Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency