Kyowa Hakko Kirin and Fujifilm launch biosimilar division

Kyowa Hakko Kirin and Fujifilm have commenced business operations at Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics, their newly formed biosimilar joint venture.

The new organisation is based in Japan and employs 27 members of staff, with operations covering the development, manufacturing and sales of biosimilars.

It brings together Kyowa Hakko Kirin's proprietary biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing technology and expertise with Fujifilm's advanced production, quality control and analysis technology.

The aim will be to create revolutionary new methods of developing biosimilars in a cost-effective manner, with the organisation's first project to focus on the creation of a promising therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.

Clinical trials of this treatment are planned to begin in 2013, while Fujifilm Kyowa Kirin Biologics intends to begin studies of one additional new biosimilar a year from 2014.

Kyowa Hakko Kirin has explained that the new joint venture will help both partner companies to capitalise on the rapid expansion of the biosimilars market, in the face of rising medical costs and patent expiries.