Alvotech Provides Regulatory Update on AVT02 Biologics License Application
Alvotech (NASDAQ: ALVO) announced that the FDA issued a complete response letter (CRL) for its Biologics License Application (BLA) for AVT02, a biosimilar candidate for Humira. The CRL highlighted deficiencies that must be resolved following a recent FDA reinspection of Alvotech’s Reykjavik facility. No other application deficiencies were indicated. Alvotech submitted a comprehensive response to the FDA on April 3, 2023, and is awaiting further communication. Additionally, a second BLA for AVT02, aiming for potential interchangeability designation, is under review with a goal date of June 28, 2023. The company is focused on addressing the noted issues to ensure approval and aims to provide a high-concentration formulation of Humira for U.S. patients.
- BLA for AVT02 is under review with a goal date of June 28, 2023.
- AVT02 is already approved in 27 EU countries and other regions, indicating strong international validation.
- FDA issued a complete response letter (CRL) indicating deficiencies that must be resolved.
- Facility issues noted during reinspection could delay approval and market entry.
REYKJAVIK, Iceland, April 14, 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 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a complete response letter (CRL) for Alvotech’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for AVT02, a high-concentration biosimilar candidate for Humira® (adalimumab). The CRL noted that certain deficiencies, which were conveyed following the FDA’s reinspection of the company’s Reykjavik facility that concluded on March 17, 2023, must be satisfactorily resolved before the application can be approved. No other deficiencies in the application were noted by the FDA. Alvotech provided the FDA comprehensive responses to the inspection observations on April 3, 2023, and is awaiting communication from the agency assessing those responses.
Alvotech’s second BLA for AVT02, which contains data to support approval as a biosimilar and additional information supporting potential interchangeability designation – remains under review by the FDA, with a Biosimilar User Fee Amendment (BsUFA) goal date of June 28, 2023. Satisfactory outcome of the facility reinspection remains the key requirement for approval.
“We look forward to working with the FDA to resolve any outstanding issues identified in the reinspection,” said Robert Wessman, Chairman and CEO of Alvotech. “We are committed to manufacturing AVT02 for patients in the United States, especially a potentially differentiated Humira biosimilar that provides a high-concentration formulation and is interchangeable.”
About AVT02
AVT02 is a monoclonal antibody and has been approved as a biosimilar to Humira® (adalimumab) in the 27 EU member countries, Norway, Lichtenstein, Iceland, the UK, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and Saudi Arabia. It is currently marketed in sixteen countries in Europe and in Canada. Dossiers are under review in multiple countries, including in the United States.
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 contains eight 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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Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (1) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Alvotech or others following the business combination between Alvotech Holdings S.A., Oaktree Acquisition Corp. II and Alvotech; (2) the ability to maintain stock exchange listing standards; (3) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (4) the possibility that Alvotech may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (5) Alvotech’s estimates of expenses and profitability; (6) Alvotech’s ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize the products and product candidates in its pipeline; (7) actions of regulatory authorities, which may affect the initiation, timing and progress of clinical studies or future regulatory approvals or marketing authorizations; (8) the ability of Alvotech or its partners to respond to inspection findings and resolve deficiencies to the satisfaction of the regulators; (9) the ability of Alvotech or its partners to enroll and retain patients in clinical studies; (10) the ability of Alvotech or its partners to gain approval from regulators for planned clinical studies, study plans or sites; (11) the ability of Alvotech’s partners to conduct, supervise and monitor existing and potential future clinical studies, which may impact development timelines and plans; (12) Alvotech’s ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval or authorizations of its products, including the timing or likelihood of expansion into additional markets or geographies; (13) the success of Alvotech’s current and future collaborations, joint ventures, partnerships or licensing arrangements; (14) Alvotech’s ability, and that of its commercial partners, to execute their commercialization strategy for approved products; (15) Alvotech’s ability to manufacture sufficient commercial supply of its approved products; (16) the outcome of ongoing and future litigation regarding Alvotech’s products and product candidates; (17) the potential impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the FDA’s review timelines, including its ability to complete timely inspection of manufacturing sites; (18) the impact of worsening macroeconomic conditions, including rising inflation and interest rates and general market conditions, war in Ukraine and global geopolitical tension, and the ongoing and evolving COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, financial position, strategy and anticipated milestones; and (19) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in documents that Alvotech may from time to time file or furnish with the SEC. 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CONTACT
Alvotech Investor Relations and Global Communications
Benedikt Stefansson
alvotech.ir@alvotech.com
FAQ
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