Orion and Amgen to collaborate on the commercialisation of AMGEVITA (biosimilar adalimumab) in Finland

Orion Corporation and Amgen have signed an agreement for the marketing and sales of AMGEVITA^®, Finland's first adalimumab biosimilar. Based on its sales value, the original adalimumab product is the most-sold medicine globally and in Finland, and its impact on medicine reimbursement costs is substantial.

The active substance of AMGEVITA is adalimumab. It is a biological medicine indicated to chronic inflammatory diseases including for example moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory intestinal diseases as well as psoriatic arthritis. Biosimilar medicines have been shown to be highly similar to their original biological medicine.

"We are very glad that Amgen chose Orion as its collaboration partner in Finland. We believe that through cooperation with healthcare professionals we can make AMGEVITA accessible to patients with chronic inflammatory disease," says Paula Rytilä, Orion's Chief Medical Officer. 

The effectiveness of biological medicines on inflammatory diseases has been proven repeatedly over the last 20 years. However, their wider use has been held back by their high cost, for example. The introduction of biosimilars could significantly reduce this cost, and could result in annual savings of up to thousands of euros per patient. The Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea) has actively encouraged the use of biosimilars.  

Orion has been one of the pioneering companies in introducing biosimilars to Finland. The first biosimilar commercialized by Orion has been in hospital use since 2013 when the biosimilar version of infliximab received marketing authorisation. AMGEVITA is the third biosimilar represented by Orion and the first that is injected by patients at home.

Further information:
Paula Rytilä, Chief Medical Officer, Orion Corporation
Tel. +358 (0)50 966 4416

Janne Maksimainen, Commercial Operations, Head of Region, Finland, Orion Corporation
Tel. +358 (0)50 966 3542

Publisher:
Orion Corporation
Communications
Orionintie 1A, FI-02200 Espoo, Finland
 

Orion is a globally operating Finnish pharmaceutical company - a builder of well-being. Orion develops, manufactures and markets human and veterinary pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The company is continuously developing new drugs and treatment methods. The core therapy areas of Orion's pharmaceutical R&D are central nervous system (CNS) disorders, oncology and respiratory diseases for which Orion develops inhaled Easyhaler® pulmonary drugs. Orion's net sales in 2017 amounted to EUR 1,034 million and the company had about 3,200 employees. Orion's A and B shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

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