On July 24, 2015 I FUJIFILM KYOWA KIRIN BIOLOGICS Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Hideaki Nomura; hereinafter "Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics") reported that it has entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca plc (hereinafter "AstraZeneca") to establish a joint venture for the development and commercialisation of FKB238 in development for the treatment of multiple solid tumours (Press release, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, JUL 24, 2015, View Source [SID:1234506617]).

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FKB238 is a biosimilar version of bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF1 humanized monoclonal antibody with established efficacy across a range of cancers including colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer2. Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics commenced its Phase I clinical trial for FKB238 in Europe in November 2014.

Under the terms of the agreement, the new joint venture that is equally co-funded by the two companies and will use FKB238’s non-clinical, clinical development data compiled by Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics thus far. Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics will transfer the rights to FKB238 to the new joint venture, and will receive a lump-sum payment of USD45 million in return.

"Together with Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Fujifilm has been developing high-quality, cost-competitive biosimilars, by adopting to Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics its technological expertise in precise production control and strict quality assurance, cultivated over the years in photographic film business." said Takatoshi Ishikawa, Director, Senior Vice President, General Manager Pharmaceutical Products Division of Fujifilm. "We hope that FKB238 will help patients as soon as possible by the joint venture accelerating the drug development."

"Since 2012, we have put effort in biosimilar business with Fujifilm through Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics." said Wataru Murata, Executive Officer, Director, Corporate Strategy & Planning Department of Kyowa Hakko Kirin. "We expect that this joint venture with AstraZeneca will accelerate the global development of FKB238 as a potential companion to other oncology medicines for the treatment of a range of cancers."

Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics was established by FUJIFILM Corporation (President and CEO: Shigehiro Nakajima; hereinafter "Fujifilm") and Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Nobuo Hanai, hereinafter "Kyowa Hakko Kirin") on March 27, 2012 as a company for developing, manufacturing and marketing biosimilars. In its pipeline are FKB238 as well as biosimilar of the fully human anti-TNF-A monoclonal antibody, adalimumab (Development No. FKB327) a drug with dramatic therapeutic effects for rheumatoid arthritis. FKB327 is under Phase III clinical trial in the United States and other countries.

By merging the technologies in advanced production, quality control and analysis which Fujifilm has developed over many years through its photographic film business, with the proprietary technologies and know-how which Kyowa Hakko Kirin has accumulated through its biopharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing, Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics creates revolutionary production processes and reduces costs for the production of biosimilars. Through this partnership, the company will develop and manufacture reliable, high quality, cost-competitive biosimilar products and commercialize these products in a timely manner. With this strategy, Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics aims to hold a leading position in the expanding biosimilar market.

* VEGF is an abbreviation for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. VEGF is a glycoprotein which promotes mitogenic activity in vascular endothelial cells, which in turn stimulates angiogenesis.
** Lung cancer can be broadly divided into small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer, with 85% of lung cancers falling into the latter category. Non-small cell lung cancers include squamous cell cancer, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma