- Shire plc (NASDAQ:SHPG) terminates its collaboration agreement with Momenta Pharmaceuticals (MNTA) to develop and commercialize M923, a biosimilar to AbbVie's (ABBV) HUMIRA (adalimumab). It made the decision after an assessment of its product portfolio following the Baxalta acquisition.
- Under the terms of the 2011 collaboration agreement between Baxalta and Momenta, the deal will terminate 12 months following the formal notice. Shire will continue to fund the M923 program until then, although preparations to transfer all clinical, regulatory and commercialization activities to Momenta will begin immediately.
- Momenta better get busy. The FDA just approved Amgen's (AMGN) version and Samsung Bioepis' version, to be marketed by Biogen (BIIB), is under regulatory review in Europe. Germany's Merck KGaA (OTCPK:MKGAF)(OTCPK:MKGAY) is also in the mix. Indian outfit Cadila Healthcare launched its HUMIRA biosimilar in India in September 2014.