Leadership succession is proceeding within South Korean pharmaceutical corporations such as Daiichi Sankyo Korea, Astellas Pharma Korea, Kyowa Kirin Korea as well as MSD Korea.

Boehringer Ingelheim’s decision not only reflects the company’s difficulties in gaining traction for the first interchangeable version of adalimumab, but also the wider problems for Humira biosimilars in the US.

France has long been a European leader in rare diseases, from its scientific research and academic hospitals, through to patient advocacy and regulatory reforms that have encouraged R&D. Its biotech and pharmaceutical industries are now leading the way, discovering the next generation of therapies for patients that are often overlooked.

Samsung Bioepis has begun Phase III trials for its SB27 proposed pembrolizumab biosimilar to Keytruda – although the firm is just one of many developers eyeing the opportunity.