Biogen signs licensing deal with Xbrane for potential biosimilar to Cimzia
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Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB) announced it entered into a commercialization and license agreement with Swedish pharmaceutical company Xbrane Biopharma AB for Xcimzane, a proposed biosimilar to CIMZIA (certolizumab pegol).
Marketed by UCB SA (OTCPK:UCBJF)
(OTCPK:UCBJY), CIMZIA is indicated for adults with rheumatoid arthritis as well as axial spondylarthrosis, psoriasis, and Crohnâs disease. Its global sales reached â¬1.8B in 2020.

Per the terms, Biogen (BIIB) is set to pay an $8M upfront payment to Xbrane, which will be responsible for the pre-clinical research for the candidate. Biogen (BIIB) will carry out its subsequent development with responsibility for the costs related to its marketing authorizations and clinical studies.
Xbrane will also be entitled to receive $80M in potential milestone payments in addition to tiered royalties.

Biogenâs latest deal follows its recent decision to sell the stake in the biosimilar joint venture, Samsung Bioepis, for nearly $2.3B.