Samsung Bioepis Anticancer Drug 'Ontruzant' to Enter Canadian Market

Samsung Bioepis's anticancer biosimilar 'Ontruzant' (Photo by Samsung Bioepis)

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] Samsung Bioepis's anticancer biosimilar drug 'Ontruzant' (generic name 'Trastuzumab') is entering the Canadian market.

Samsung Bioepis announced on the 3rd that Ontruzant, a biosimilar approved by Health Canada for the treatment of early breast cancer (EBC), metastatic breast cancer (MBC), and metastatic gastric cancer (MGC), has received approval.

Ontruzant was developed as a biosimilar to Roche's breast and gastric cancer treatment drug 'Herceptin.' In Korea, it is sold under the name 'Sampenet' by Boryung Pharmaceutical. Ontruzant is the brand name used in Europe and the United States. The multinational pharmaceutical company Organon will handle local sales of Ontruzant in Canada.

Ontruzant is Samsung Bioepis's fifth biosimilar approved in Canada. Previously, 'Brensys' (Enbrel biosimilar) was approved in 2016, 'Renflexis' (Remicade biosimilar) in 2017, 'Hadlima' (Humira biosimilar) in 2018, and 'Avensio' (Avastin biosimilar) in 2021 by Health Canada.

Jung Byung-in, Executive Director at Samsung Bioepis, said, "Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths," adding, "We expect Ontruzant to contribute to expanding patient access to treatment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.