REYKJAVIK, Iceland, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alvotech (NASDAQ: ALVO), a global biotech company specializing in the development and manufacture of biosimilar medicines for patients worldwide, announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a complete response letter (CRL) for Alvotech’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for AVT04, a biosimilar candidate to Stelara® (ustekinumab).
As expected, the CRL noted that certain deficiencies, which were conveyed following the FDA’s inspection of the company’s Reykjavik facility that concluded in March 2023, must be satisfactorily resolved before the application can be approved. No other deficiencies in the application were noted by the FDA. Alvotech intends to resubmit the BLA for AVT04 to the FDA shortly, which would likely trigger a six-month review period and a new Biosimilar User Fee Act (BsUFA) goal date.
“AVT04 has recently been approved in Japan, and other marketing applications for AVT04 are currently awaiting approval in other major markets. Based on our latest interactions with the FDA we are currently expecting that the agency will reinspect our facility in the beginning of next year. We look forward to being able to bring AVT04 to U.S. patients, pending a satisfactory inspection and BLA approval, no later than in February 2025, in accordance with our license entry date agreement,” said Robert Wessman, Chairman and CEO of Alvotech.
In June 2023 Alvotech and Teva, the exclusive commercialization partner for AVT04 in the U.S., reached a settlement and license agreement with Johnson & Johnson, that grants an entry date for AVT04 in the U.S. no later than February 21, 2025.
About AVT04 (ustekinumab)
AVT04 is a monoclonal antibody and a biosimilar candidate to Stelara® (ustekinumab). Ustekinumab binds to two cytokines, IL-12 and IL-23, that are involved in inflammatory and immune responses [1]. AVT04 has been approved in Japan. Dossiers are currently under evaluation in other major markets globally.
About Alvotech
Alvotech is a biotech company, founded by Robert Wessman, focused solely on the development and manufacture of biosimilar medicines for patients worldwide. Alvotech seeks to be a global leader in the biosimilar space by delivering high quality, cost-effective products, and services, enabled by a fully integrated approach and broad in-house capabilities. Alvotech’s current pipeline includes eight disclosed biosimilar candidates aimed at treating autoimmune disorders, eye disorders, osteoporosis, respiratory disease, and cancer. Alvotech has formed a network of strategic commercial partnerships to provide global reach and leverage local expertise in markets that include the United States, Europe, Japan, China, and other Asian countries and large parts of South America, Africa and the Middle East. Alvotech’s commercial partners include Teva Pharmaceuticals, a US affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (US), STADA Arzneimittel AG (EU), Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd (Japan), Advanz Pharma (EEA, UK, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), Cipla/Cipla Gulf/Cipla Med Pro (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa/Africa), JAMP Pharma Corporation (Canada), Yangtze River Pharmaceutical (Group) Co., Ltd. (China), DKSH (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan), YAS Holding LLC (Middle East and North Africa), Abdi Ibrahim (Turkey), Kamada Ltd. (Israel), Mega Labs, Stein, Libbs, Tuteur and Saval (Latin America) and Lotus Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, and South Korea). Each commercial partnership covers a unique set of product(s) and territories. Except as specifically set forth therein, Alvotech disclaims responsibility for the content of periodic filings, disclosures and other reports made available by its partners. For more information, please visit www.alvotech.com. None of the information on the Alvotech website shall be deemed part of this press release.
Forward Looking Statements
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[1] https://www.janssenlabels.com/package-insert/product-monograph/prescribing-information/STELARA-pi.pdf
CONTACTS
Alvotech Investor Relations
Benedikt Stefansson
alvotech.ir@alvotech.com
