Samsung Bioepis launched “Byooviz“, its biosimilar version of Lucentis eye treatment in the U.S. It tried to launch the lowest price. The wholesale price of Byooviz has been set at $1,130 per 0.5 milligrams, and it is 40 percent cheaper than the original drug.
According to report of Korea Joongang Daily, Samsung Bioepis makes Byooviz the first biosimilar referencing Lucentis to be sold in the United States. The drug is an identical copy of ranibizumab, better known as Lucentis, developed by California-based Genentech. Lucentis treats serious eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy. It is used to help prevent decreased vision and blindness.
The Lucentis patent expired in June 2020 in the United States. Last year alone, Lucentis generated global revenue of around 4.4 trillion won ($3.4 billion), with about 1.8 trillion won, or 41 percent, coming from the U.S.
Samsung Bioepis gained use approval for the eye treatment from the European Commission in late August and from Korea’s health regulator in May.
