Alvotech Initiates Confirmatory Patient Study For AVT16, A Proposed Biosimilar To Entyvio®

• Alvotech is one of two companies known to have initiated a global or multi-country confirmatory patient study for a biosimilar candidate to Entyvio®
• Sales of Entyvio (vedolizumab) were about $5.4 billion globally in the last 12 months up to June 30, 2024
• Entyvio is indicated for the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease

(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Alvotech (NASDAQ: ALVO), a global biotech company specialized in the development and manufacture of biosimilar medicines for patients worldwide, announced today the initiation of a confirmatory patient study for AVT16, a biosimilar candidate to Entyvio® (vedolizumab). The objective of the study is to demonstrate comparative efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of AVT16 and Entyvio, in male and female participants 18-80 years old with moderate to severe active Ulcerative Colitis. Alvotech is one of two companies known to have initiated a global or multi-country confirmatory patient study for a biosimilar candidate to Entyvio.

Entyvio (vedolizumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe Ulcerative Colitis, a disease causing inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the bowel, and moderate to severely active Crohn’s disease, a disease causing inflammation of the digestive tract. In the last twelve months until June 30, 2024, combined net revenues worldwide from sales of Entyvio were about US$5.4 billion ^[1].

“We are proud to be able to initiate the confirmatory patient study for AVT16, adding another important biosimilar candidate in clinical development to our pipeline. Alvotech’s growing pipeline and portfolio of marketed biosimilars, leveraging our dedicated comprehensive R&D and manufacturing platform, demonstrates our commitment to improving people’s lives globally by increasing access to cost-effective biologic medicines,” said Joseph McClellan, Chief Science Officer of Alvotech.

The AVT16-GL-C01 multicenter study has a double-blind parallel design with 2 arms. Participants will receive either AVT16 or Entyvio, and all participants will be followed to determine efficacy of the treatment using a standardized score for Ulcerative Colitis disease activity.

Alvotech’s current biosimilars portfolio targets autoimmune disease, eye disorders, bone disease, respiratory disease, and cancer. Two biosimilars, to Humira® (adalimumab) and Stelara® (ustekinumab) are already approved and marketed in multiple global markets. Alvotech expects to file marketing applications for three biosimilar candidates in the course of 2024, while AVT16 is one of six disclosed biosimilar programs in earlier stages of development.

About AVT16
AVT16 is a human monoclonal antibody and a biosimilar candidate to Entyvio® (vedolizumab). Vedolizumab targets and binds specifically to the alpha-4-beta-7 protein, which is preferentially expressed on T helper lymphocytes (white blood cells) which migrate into the gastrointestinal tract and cause inflammation characteristic of Ulcerative Colitis and Chron’s disease ^[2]. AVT16 is an investigational product and has not received regulatory approval in any country. Biosimiliarity has not been established by regulatory authorities and is not claimed.

About AVT02 (adalimumab)
AVT02 is a monoclonal antibody and has been approved as a biosimilar to Humira® (adalimumab) in over 50 countries globally, including the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. It is currently marketed in the U.S. as SIMLANDI and under private label, in Europe as HUKYNDRA, in Canada as SIMLANDI and in Australia as ADALACIP. Dossiers are also under review in multiple countries globally.

About AVT04 (ustekinumab)
AVT04 is a monoclonal antibody and a biosimilar to Stelara® (ustekinumab). It has been launched in Canada as JAMTEKI, in the EEA as UZPRUVO, and in Japan as USTEKINUMAB BS (F). It has been approved in the U.S. as SELARSDI. Dossiers are also under review in multiple countries globally.

Sources

^[1] IQVIA ^[2] Entyvio product information, EMA.