Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a U.S. affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., a global leader in generic and innovative medicines and Alvotech, a global biotech company specializing in the development and manufacture of biosimilar medicines for patients worldwide, announced that they have agreed to expand their existing strategic partnership agreement. Teva will also acquire subordinated convertible bonds to be issued by Alvotech.
The partners continue working closely on matters concerning pending approval in the U.S. for AVT02, an interchangeable high-concentration biosimilar candidate for Humira (adalimumab). The existing strategic partnership agreement also includes four other biosimilar candidates, one of which is AVT04, a proposed biosimilar for Stelara® (ustekinumab), which is currently pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.
The expansion to the existing strategic partnership agreement pertains to exclusive commercialization in the U.S. by Teva of two new biosimilar candidates and line extensions of two current biosimilar candidates in the partnership, to be developed, and manufactured by Alvotech. The agreement includes milestone payments, the majority paid following product approvals and upon achieving significant sales milestones. Teva and Alvotech will share profit from the commercialization of the biosimilars. All other financial terms and product details remain confidential.
The agreement also includes increased involvement by Teva regarding manufacturing and quality at Alvotech’s manufacturing facility. Teva is actively supporting Alvotech on-site in Iceland to be fully ready for an FDA inspection.
Teva has agreed to acquire subordinated convertible bonds to be issued by Alvotech pursuant to a convertible bond instrument, dated December 20, 2022, for $40 million. Teva’s investment will be used by Alvotech as part of the funding for continued development of its biosimilars pipeline over the near-term.
“We welcome Teva’s continued partnership and this expansion of our partnership agreement,” said Robert Wessman, Chairman and CEO of Alvotech. “We remain focused on preparing for a successful pre-approval inspection and resolving any outstanding issues identified by the FDA to be able to bring our biosimilar candidates to patients in the U.S. with Teva as soon as possible.”
“Teva remains fully committed to its leadership in biosimilars and the partnership with Alvotech,” said Sven Dethlefs, Executive Vice President, North America Commercial. “We remain optimistic about additional compounds in the pipeline and continued progress with AVT02 and ATV04.”