Abbott broadens access to cutting edge biosimilars in key emerging markets

mAbxience, with majority ownership from Fresenius Kabi and partial ownership from Insud Pharma, will manufacture the biosimilars in one of its two state-of-the art and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)-approved facilities in Spain and Argentina. Additionally, mAbxience will be responsible for achieving the clinical milestones for some of the molecules still undergoing development.

This collaboration broadens Abbott's medicines offering in emerging countries and expands an existing agreement with mAbxience, initiated in Latin America in 2018. Through this agreement, Abbott provided access to treatment options for two cutting-edge oncology biosimilars in various countries including Colombia, Chile and Peru, and in Central America.

"The expanded collaboration with mAbxience will complement our existing branded generic medicines portfolio with state-of-the-art biosimilars," said Daniel Salvadori, executive vice president and group president, Established Pharmaceuticals and Nutritional Products, Abbott. "With our large footprint in emerging countries and our commitment to put access and affordability at the center of what we do, this strategic collaboration will help more people in more places have access to affordable biosimilar medicines."

With worldwide population aging and changing lifestyles, non-communicable diseases such as cancer are on the rise. For people in emerging countries, access to care is often not optimal due to physical challenges in accessing a doctor – especially in rural areas – and limitations in standards of care, as the latest innovations may not be available. Lacking access to treatment options and care is one of the reasons why people in emerging countries are much more likely to die from these diseases than people in wealthier countries. More than three-quarters of all deaths worldwide from chronic diseases happen in emerging countries. In Brazil and Mexico, up to 40 percent of cancer patients who may benefit from biologics do not receive the therapy they need.

"Collaborating with Abbott's medicines business is a key strategic step to help bring our biosimilars into the hands of more people who need them," said Emmanuelle Lepine, chief executive officer, mAbxience. "Abbott shares a common vision of making high-quality medicines available so that healthcare systems can have cost-effective treatment options, with an opportunity for more people around the world to get healthier. This new agreement supports our strategy of becoming a leading global player within the biosimilar space."

"This collaboration will commercialize biosimilars in select key emerging markets. It will help introduce life-saving treatments in key oncology, women's health and respiratory diseases for the first time in some countries, at a fraction of the cost of originator biologics, making it more accessible and affordable for healthcare systems in these countries," the release stated.