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Biosimilar Antibody-Drug Conjugates? Pfizer Isn’t Banking On It

‘The Regulatory Path Has To Be Determined. It Doesn’t Exist Today’

 
• By Dean Rudge

Pfizer’s $43bn agreement to acquire Seagen would layer its portfolio and pipeline with vastly complex antibody-drug conjugates – a class of drug that execs feel might be almost immune to biosimilar competition. Generic firms’ history of frustration with ADCs suggests they may be right.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 05: CEO of Pfizer Inc. Albert Bourla, DVM, Ph.D. attends 2019 Forbes Healthcare Summit at the Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)
• Source: Steven Ferdman/Getty Images (Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)

Pfizer Inc.’s recent determination to pay $43bn for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) pioneer Seagen Inc., the largest pharmaceutical deal since AbbVie Inc.’s $63bn takeover of Allergan plc three years ago, stems in part from the remote chance that a biosimilar sponsor would ever be motivated – or indeed able – to replicate the groundbreaking medicines.

This is according to Pfizer’s CEO Albert Bourla, who spearheaded efforts to turn rumors into reality earlier this week with Pfizer’s all-cash agreement for Seagen, including $31bn of fresh long-term debt

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