Taizhou biotech drug wins approval in Thailand, expanding global reach

Mabpharm's Taizhou production base. [Photo/Mabpharm]

Taizhou-based Mabtech Pharmaceutical has secured another overseas regulatory approval for its flagship product, infliximab biosimilar Leiting, in Thailand.

The approval further expands the drug's international footprint, and it has already gained market access in Peru, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Malaysia.

Leiting was approved by China's National Medical Products Administration in 2021, becoming the first infliximab biosimilar approved for marketing in China. It is used to treat a range of autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease.

Autoimmune diseases are often chronic and recurring, meaning patients may need long-term treatment. Infliximab is a widely used biologic therapy for autoimmune diseases, but access to advanced biologic drugs remains limited in many emerging markets, where healthcare spending and the use of biologic therapies are relatively low.

The approval in Thailand therefore gives local patients access to a potentially more affordable treatment option without compromising on quality.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly listed Mabpharm, Taizhou Mabtech focuses on the R&D, manufacturing and commercialization of antibody drugs for cancer and autoimmune diseases.