JHL Biotech to Begin Phase 3 Trial of Biosimilar Rituximab Candidate

This week, JHL Biotech announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has granted the company positive Scientific Advice to begin a phase 3 clinical trial of its potential rituximab biosimilar, JHL1101.

“The EMA confirmed it agrees with JHL’s development approach, clinical development proposal, and study design of the global phase 3 clinical study for JHL1101 in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma,” read the release.

After the EMA had reviewed each of these factors in accordance with the existing approval pathway for biosimilars in the European Union (EU), CHMP has deemed that the results of the phase 3 trial will be acceptable for the submission of a marketing authorization application, assuming the study finds positive results.

In addition, JHL Biotech also received a Clinical Trial Permit from the Center for Drug Evaluation of the State Drug Administration of China to initiate the same global phase 3 study of JHL1101. JHL plans to launch the study in China, Europe, and other countries in the coming months.

“This study adds to the data collected in the JHL1101 EU study and will differentiate JHL from many of its competitors. JHL Biotech is one of the few companies conducting clinical trials with biosimilars globally,” said Racho Jordanov, CEO and co-chairman of JHL in a prepared statement.