Samsung Bioepis will take over direct sales in Europe of Byooviz (ranibizumab), a treatment for ophthalmic diseases.
Samsung Bioepis said on the 4th that it received back European commercialization rights for Byooviz from its former marketing partner Biogen and will begin direct sales in Europe starting this year.
Byooviz is a biosimilar with ingredients and efficacy similar to Lucentis, an ophthalmic treatment developed by Genentech. It is mainly used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, a disease in which vision declines rapidly with aging, and diabetic macular edema, in which the retina is damaged by diabetes. In Europe, Biogen had been responsible for sales.
The decision follows Samsung Bioepis' announcement in Oct. last year that it would reclaim European rights to Byooviz from Biogen. As a result, Samsung Bioepis will directly manage product supply and sales in each European country.
Previously, starting with the rare disease treatment Epysclir in 2023, the osteoporosis treatment Ovodense and the anticancer adjuvant therapy Xbrick have been sold directly in Europe by Samsung Bioepis. With Byooviz added, the number of products sold directly in Europe has reached four.
The company said it plans to expand its direct-sales strategy based on commercialization experience accumulated in the European market. Linda Choi, executive vice president and head of the Commercial Division at Samsung Bioepis, said, "With the start of direct sales of Byooviz in Europe, we will strengthen cooperation with local medical sites."