Sandoz finalizes the acquisition of Cimerli, a biosimilar for the eye medication Lucentis, enhancing its ophthalmology portfolio in the US market.

Our story reporting this news was published over a month ago. It has now been confirmed.

The generics specialist Sandoz has completed the takeover of the biosimilar Cimerli in the USA. Sandoz had already announced the takeover plans in January.

Sandoz has acquired the biosimilar of the eye drug Lucentis from the US biotech company Coherus BioSciences for 170 million US dollars in cash. The Basel-based company announced the transaction was completed faster than expected on Monday. The deal was initially expected to be completed in the year’s first half.

The acquisition strengthens Sandoz’s US market position and ophthalmology business. Cimerli is a ranibizumab biosimilar that is interchangeable with the original drug Lucentis in all approved indications. It has been approved in the US since August 2022 and was launched there in October 2022.

The original preparation Lucentis is marketed by the two pharmaceutical companies Roche and Novartis. Roche is responsible for the US market, and Novartis is for the other markets.

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