Kyowa Kirin Announces Approval for Partial Change of Rituximab Biosimilar Received by Sandoz in Japan

Tokyo, Japan, November 18, 2020 – Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Masashi Miyamoto, "Kyowa Kirin", TSE: 4151) today announced that Sandoz KK (Tokyo, President: Shingo Iwamoto, "Sandoz"), its strategic partner of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab biosimilar, has received approval for the partial change of rituximab biosimilar for the treatment of acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

This product is a biosimilar to the rituximab (genetic recombination) with a MOA (mechanism of action) of antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC), complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and B-cell depletion due to apoptosis. The product was recently granted a partial change approval for the treatment of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and as premedication of ibritumomab tiuxetan in September 2020.

Under the agreement with Sandoz announced on January 26, 2016, Kyowa Kirin is responsible for sales and marketing of the product in Japan.

The Kyowa Kirin Group companies strive to contribute to the health and well-being of people around the world by creating new value through the pursuit of advances in life sciences and technologies.