Hetero launches HumiraTM biosimilar in India

Indian drug maker Hetero has launched a biosimilar of AbbVie's 'HumiraTM' (adalimumab) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other auto immune disorders in India, the company stated in a release. This Hetero's fourth biosimilar drug, it added.

The product will be marketed by Hetero Healthcare under the brand name 'MaburaTM' in India, the company said. Hetero did not disclose the price at which it would be marketing the drug in the country.

MaburaTM is an anti-inflammatory biologic medication specific for human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and the auto-immune disorders it is indicated for include psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, it added.

MaburaTM will be available as a pre-filled syringe (PFS) of 40mg and is administered subcutaneously, it said.

"Adalimumab is the first fully human monoclonal antibody which was first approved by US FDA in 2002. The product will be manufactured at our dedicated state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for biologics, based at Hyderabad," the company stated.