Pfizer files lawsuit to cease sale of biosimilar

Pharma News: Pfizer has filed Federal Court proceedings to halt the sale of a drug that is a biosimilar to the company’s rheumatoid arthritis medication.

The lawsuit against Samsung Bioepis, Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD), Organon, and Arrotex, seeks to to halt sales of the biosimilar Brenzys which was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in 2017.

In its lawsuit Pfizer claims the drug companies infringed one of its patents relating to Enbrel titled “Production of polypeptides” by agreeing to manufacture and sell Brenzys in Australia.

Pfizer is seeking compensation for financial losses allegedly suffered because of the sale of Brenzys in Australia and court orders barring the sale of the drug until its patent expires in August 2025.

Enbrel (etanercept) brought in around $1.7 billion in revenue for Pfizer from sales outside the USA and Canada in 2021, according to the company’s most recent financial results.

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