Sandoz  has announced the European launch of its Pyzchiva (ustekinumab) autoinjector. This is the first ustekinumab biosimilar in Europe commercially available in an autoinjector.

Developed and registered by Samsung Bioepis, Pyzchiva is approved for the treatment of adults with plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and paediatric plaque psoriasis for patients aged six years and older, weighing over 60 kg.

The Pyzchiva autoinjector supports a more comfortable self-administration experience with accurate automatic dosing less frequent injection pain a compact design and flexible storage options, offering the potential for improved adherence to patient treatment plans.

Christophe Delenta, President – Europe, Sandoz, said, “Access to medicine does not end when it reaches the hands of the patient. The Pyzchiva autoinjector, with its thoughtful and advanced features, addresses the real-world needs of patients in managing chronic inflammatory diseases. This launch marks another important milestone as we strengthen our leadership in immunology biosimilars and reaffirm our commitment to pioneering access across Europe’s evolving healthcare landscape.”

Europe has the highest prevalence of psoriasis worldwide, affecting an estimated 6.4 million people. Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, are also common in Europe, affecting an estimated 2.5 to 3 million people. Non-adherence to biologic therapies can lead to disease progression, increased flares and reduced quality of life while contributing to increased healthcare utilisation, including hospitalisations and additional treatments, thereby escalating healthcare costs.

Pyzchiva is a key biosimilar value driver for the Sandoz growth strategy. It has been launched in 23 markets in Europe. The autoinjector is now available in Spain and will continue to roll out across Europe.

Sandoz entered into a development and commercialisation agreement for biosimilar ustekinumab with Samsung Bioepis in September 2023. Under the terms of the agreement, Sandoz has the right to commercialise Pyzchiva in Brazil, the US, the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the UK. Samsung Bioepis remains responsible for the development, registration, intellectual property, manufacturing and supply.