Brief

Teva, Celltrion Gain FDA Approval for Generic Blood Cancer Bio-Drug

Called Truxima, the drug has been approved to treat several conditions of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Celltrion Inc. announced on Tuesday they have received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a biosimilar intended to treat several conditions of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a certain type of blood cancer. Biosimilars are generic, nearly identical versions of drugs manufactured from biological sources such as blood or tissue, instead of chemical sources like traditional generic drugs. Called Truxima, Teva's drug is the first biosimilar approved in the U.S. for F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG's Rituxan.

 

Teva's Israeli headquarters. Photo: Bloomberg