Coherus BioSciences Inc. is betting big on biosimilars, and is one of an elite group of pure play biosimilar specialists looking to compete against significantly bigger players. Though Coherus is a relatively little-known newcomer, it is one of just seven drug companies to have submitted a biosimilar application to FDA, along with marquee names like Sandoz Inc., Amgen Inc. and Pfizer Inc. – and it has the chance to be first to market in some lucrative categories.
The Redwood City, Calif.-based upstart could be the first to launch a biosimilar version of Amgen's blockbuster Neulasta (pegfilgrastim). Coherus anticipates approval of its version of pegfilgrastim in the second quarter of 2017 and a launch in the first quarter of 2018
Coherus is focused solely on biosimilars and has two other candidates in Phase III trials that are especially enticing to investors: a biosimilar to AbbVie Inc.’s Humira (adalimumab), and a biosimilar to Amgen's Enbrel (etanercept)