Boryung launches Samsung Bioepis' bone cancer biosimilar with storage edge over Amgen's Xgeva

Boryung has officially launched Xbryk, a denosumab biosimilar developed by Samsung Bioepis, in the Korean market. The product became available last Friday following its addition to the national reimbursement list.

Xbryk is a biosimilar to Amgen’s Xgeva and is approved to prevent skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastases and to treat giant cell tumor of bone. Based on these indications, the global market for denosumab-based therapies is valued at around 3.3 trillion won, or approximately $2.4 billion.

The product received regulatory approval in May. In June, Boryung and Samsung Bioepis signed a commercialization deal that assigned development, manufacturing and supply responsibilities to Samsung Bioepis, with Boryung handling domestic sales and marketing.

Boryung said in Monday’s release that Xbryk offers improved storage flexibility over the originator, which must be discarded after 14 days at room temperature. Xbryk can be stored at room temperature for up to 60 days before being returned to refrigeration. 

The company also described it as the most affordable denosumab treatment for bone disease currently available in Korea, priced at 171,084 won, or roughly $123 per 1.7 mL vial, compared to 195,525 won for Amgen’s original.

Boryung said it plans to use its oncology sales experience to accelerate uptake of Xbryk in the domestic market. The company highlighted its existing partnership with Samsung Bioepis on other oncology biosimilars, noting that bevacizumab biosimilar Onbevzi generated 45.2 billion won in sales last year.