Pfenex & Alvogen Announce EMA Accepts Marketing Authorization Application

Pfenex Inc. and Alvogen recently announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) submitted by our partner Alvogen for PF708 (teriparatide). The product is proposed as a therapeutic equivalent in the treatment of osteoporosis to Forteo. The product is filed with the EMA as a biosimilar in the treatment of osteoporosis to Forsteo, which achieved $289 million sales in the EU and $1.6 billion in global product sales in 2018. This acceptance means the EMA considers the MAA to be complete and initiates the EMA’s formal review process.

“The acceptance of the PF708 MAA filing is an important milestone for Pfenex and Alvogen and demonstrates that through our collaborative partnership, we continue making progress toward potential approvals beyond the US,” said Eef Schimmelpennink, Chief Executive Officer of Pfenex. “Subject to applicable regulatory approvals, for Europe, PF708 will be commercialized by Theramex, a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to Women’s Health.”

“We are very pleased with the EMA’s acceptance of the MAA for review. This is an important milestone and underlines the successful and valuable partnership between Pfenex and Alvogen to bring biosimilar Teriparatide to market and deliver on our mission to provide high-quality, affordable healthcare for patients. The EMA will review the application under the centralized marketing authorization procedure. If approved by the EMA, biosimilar Teriparatide would receive marketing authorization in all 28 member states of the European Union (EU), as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway,” added Faysal Kalmoua, Executive Vice President of Alvogen’s Global Portfolio.

PF708 is being developed by Pfenex as a therapeutic equivalent candidate to Forteo, which is approved and marketed by Eli Lilly and Company for the treatment of osteoporosis in certain patients with a high risk of fracture. Forteo achieved $1.6 billion in global product sales in 2018. PF708 is being developed pursuant to the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway in the US and references Forteo as the Reference Listed Drug. PF708 has been filed with EMA using the biosimilar pathway and references Forsteo as the Reference Drug.

Pfenex is a clinical-stage development and licensing biotechnology company focused on leveraging its Pfēnex Expression Technology to develop and improve protein therapies for unmet patient needs. Using the patented Pfēnex Expression Technology platform, the company has created an advanced pipeline of potential therapeutic equivalents, novel biologics, vaccine and vaccine components, and biosimilars. The company’s lead product candidate is PF708, under development as a therapeutic equivalent drug candidate to Forteo (teriparatide) indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis. In addition, the company is developing hematology/oncology products, including PF743, a recombinant crisantaspase, and PF745, a recombinant crisantaspase with half-life extension, in collaboration with Jazz Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited (Jazz). Both PF743 and PF745 are being developed for the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). We also use our Pfēnex Expression Technology platform to produce CRM197, a diphtheria toxoid carrier protein used in prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine candidates under development by third parties.

Alvogen is a global, privately owned pharmaceutical company focused on developing, manufacturing and selling generic, brand, over-the-counter brands (OTC) and biosimilar products for patients around the world.  The company has commercial operations in 35 countries with 2,800 employees and operates four manufacturing and development hubs in the U.S., Romania, Korea and Taiwan. North America is Alvogen’s single largest market and other key markets include: South Korea, Russia, Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Taiwan, Japan and China. Learn more about Alvogen at www.alvogen.com.

Theramex is leading, global specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to women and their health. With a broad portfolio of innovative and established brands covering contraception, fertility, menopause and osteoporosis, we support women at every stage of their lives. Our commitment is to listen and understand our patients, serve their needs, and offer healthcare solutions to help improve their lives. Our vision is to be a lifetime partner for women and the healthcare professionals who treat them by providing innovative, effect solutions that care for and support women as they advance through each stage of their lives.