JSR launches services firm for biosimilar development

Newly formed business division Similis Bio will help companies improve efficiency and cost of biosimilar development, says JSR Life Sciences.

According to JSR, Similis will provide biosimilar drug developers with solutions to drive development timelines and decrease associated costs. Additionally, Similis will supply partners with data to establish a biosimilar target as well as offering complete analytical and process development packages.

The data packages include analytical procedures, product data, process knowledge, and CMC templates from a centralized model created to give clients access to higher quality biosimilar packages at a lower cost than others available.

John Gabrielson, SVP, Biosimilars & Head of Business Similis Bio. Image/co JSR

“The demand is significant,” John Gabrielson, SVP, Biosimilars & Head of Business Similis Bio told BioProcess Insider.

“Biosimilars are expected to grow at more than 20% compound annual growth rate worldwide for the next decade, and with constant pressure to drive down the price of biologic medicines, the industry needs new, cost-effective approaches to bring high-quality biosimilars to market.”

Similis will launch co-development agreements with partner companies to start the acceleration of numerous biosimilar programs in parallel. In turn, this gives partners an exclusive right, but not an obligation, to buy multiple programs. This collaboration model has been designed this way to decrease the risk from program cancellations and lengthen market analysis timelines, JSR said.

Gabrielson did not disclose the names of any partners but told us “We are closely collaborating with two potential partners and expect to make an announcement related to one of the partnerships within the next two months.”

Scale-up

JSR will be required to “modestly scale up its staff to meet market demand for the Similis offering,” and noted that with over 30 sites world-wide, the firm “is well positioned to meet the significant demand we expect for biosimilar development.”

Furthermore, the business division will use JSR facilities located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Louisville, Colorado, and Geneva, Switzerland. As well as collaborating with JSR member companies, including KBI Biopharma and Selexis SA.