Biogen and Samsung Bioepis said Tuesday they will launch Imraldi, the company’s biosimilar of AbbVie’s Humira, one of the world’s most purchased biomedicine with an estimated 18 trillion won ($15 billion) in annual sales.

The European Commission approved Imraldi in August 2017 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, pediatric plaque psoriasis, adult and adolescent hidradenitis suppurativa, Crohn’s disease, pediatric Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and uveitis.

“The launch of Imraldi marks a significant milestone for Biogen and Samsung Bioepis, as the adalimumab product is the third anti-TNF biosimilar developed by Samsung Bioepis to be commercialized by Biogen across Europe,” the company said.

Benepali (Enbrel biosimilar) and Flixabi (Remicade biosimilar) were approved in 2016, and have approximately 100,000 patients currently under treatment with more than six million doses administered across 25 and 14 countries, respectively, it added.

“With the introduction of Imraldi, there are now four biosimilars approved in Europe,” Samsung Bioepis CEO Ko Han-sung said. “As a leader in the biosimilar industry, we will provide high-quality biopharmaceuticals to patients at a reasonable price.”

Ian Henshaw, head of Biogen’s Biosimilars Unit, said, “We look forward to increasing patient access to this important medicine by leveraging our industry-leading position in the European anti-TNF market.”

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