Teva, Celltrion launch their Rituxan biosimilar Truxima

Teva and Celltrion are introducing Truxima (rituximab-abbs) injection. The product is the first biosimilar to Genentech’s Rituxan (rituximab).  

Truxima is currently indicated for the treatment of adult patients with:

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, or NHL:  relapsed or refractory, low grade or follicular, CD20-positive B-cell NHL as a single agent; previously untreated follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL in combination with first line chemotherapy and, in patients achieving a complete or partial response to a rituximab product in combination with chemotherapy, as single-agent maintenance therapy; non-progressing (including stable disease), low-grade, CD20­positive, B-cell NHL as a single agent after first-line cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) chemotherapyl; previously untreated diffuse large B-cell, CD20-positive NHL in combination with (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens.

It also is indicated for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated and previously treated CD20-positive CLL.

“We are excited about the first FDA approved biosimilar to rituximab in the United States,” Brendan O’Grady, Teva executive vice president and head of North America commercial. “Teva’s commitment to biosimilars is focused on the potential to create lower healthcare costs and increased price competition. This focus is consistent with Teva’s mission of making accessible medications to help improve the lives of patients.”

“We are pleased to announce the launch of the first rituximab biosimilar, Truxima, with our marketing partner Teva in the United States," said Celltrion vice chairman Hyoung-Ki Kim. “We believe that the introduction of Truxima into the U.S. market will contribute to addressing unmet needs of U.S. patients as well.”