Mylan has agreed to the terms of a global settlement with Genentech, Inc. and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. related to patents for Herceptin (trastuzumab), which provides Mylan with global licenses for its trastuzumab product.
Mylan said on Monday the global license will provide it a clear pathway to commercialize its trastuzumab product in various markets around the world, commencing on the license effective dates, which are confidential. The licenses pertain to all countries except Japan, Brazil and Mexico. In addition to eliminating any legal uncertainty over the launch of Mylan’s trastuzumab, the settlement eliminates further patent litigation expenses associated with Genentech and Roche, the company said in its press release.
Furthermore, Mylan has agreed to withdraw its pending Inter Partes Review (IPR) challenges against two U.S. Genentech patents (patent numbers 6,407,213 and 6,331,415) as part of the settlement.
After the settlement and the recent acceptance of Mylan’s application for its proposed biosimilar trastuzumab with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Mylan said it expects to become the first company to launch a biosimilar to Herceptin in the U.S.
All other terms and conditions of the settlement and license agreement are confidential.
Mylan CEO Heather Bresch said: “There is an unmet need for access to more affordable versions of biologic products such as trastuzumab. We look forward to enhancing access to this important treatment option, which complements our comprehensive cancer care offerings, in the U.S. and around the world. With 16 biosimilar products in development, we believe Mylan has one of the industry’s broadest portfolios of biosimilars and that we will be a leader in bringing high-quality biosimilar products to market given our ability not only to develop and manufacture such complex products, but also to navigate the intricate regulatory and legal environment and successfully commercialize these products on a global basis.”
Mylan’s proposed biosimilar trastuzumab is one of the six biologic products co-developed by Mylan and Biocon for the global marketplace. Mylan has exclusive commercialization rights for the proposed biosimilar trastuzumab in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and in the European Union and European Free Trade Association countries. Biocon has co-exclusive commercialization rights with Mylan for the product in the rest of the world.
In the U.S., Mylan’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for proposed biosimilar trastuzumab is currently under review by FDA. The anticipated FDA goal date set under the Biosimilar User Fee Act (BsUFA) is Sept. 3, 2017.