Pune-based Enzene Biosciences, subsidiary of Alkem Laboratories on Thursday said it has begun commercial lsupplies of adalimumab biosimilar used for treating autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosis spondylitis.

Enzene or its parent Alkem which is commercialising the drug didn’t announce the price, but said it would be competitively priced.

This is Enzene’s fourth biosimilar launch in the last eighteen months and the company believes that the first commercial launch using continuous manufacturing technology will help in reducing the cost of rheumatoid arthritis treatment for millions of patients across India.

“We have been working on this novel fully integrated platform for the last six years and the commercialisation of Adalimumab is a validation of our innovation-based work culture,” said Dr. Himanshu Gadgil, CEO of Enzene Biosciences,

“Adalimumab development included comparative efficacy and safety studies in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, also known as Marie-Strumpell disease or Bechterew’s disease,” Gadgil added.

“We have invested significantly in building a world class biotech company through Enzene and our confidence has been justified by a series of biosimilars launches in the recent past. Alkem has also built exceptional capabilities in clinical development of complex therapies which has put us in a position to
significantly impact Indian healthcare,” said Sandeep Singh, MD of Alkem Laboratories.

Enzene, along with developing biosimilars, also does contract development and manufacturing for other companies.