Sandoz, a key player in generic and biosimilar medicines, on Friday announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for Afqlir (aflibercept) 2 mg vial kit and pre-filled syringe for intravitreal injection, a biosimilar to reference medicine Eylea by Bayer AG.
According to the company’s statement, Afqlir is indicated to treat various retinal diseases, including neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), aiming to prevent disease-related blindness.
Afqlir is one of several biosimilar value drivers for Sandoz and this approval represents a major step in advancing the company’s growth strategy. Launch is expected as of Q4 2025.
“Vision loss significantly affects daily activities, from work to social interactions. Early and expanded access to effective treatments is essential for patients to maintain and improve their visual acuity. The approval of Afqlir is a pivotal moment in delivering an affordable and effective treatment option to patients in Europe who are affected by conditions such as nAMD. This milestone underscores our commitment to improving patient outcomes through accessible, high-quality biosimilars,” Claire D’Abreu-Hayling, Chief Scientific Officer, Sandoz, said.
nAMD is a subtype of AMD, characterized by a vision loss in the central zone, and is a leading cause of vision impairment in patients over 65 years of age. nAMD accounts for approximately 10 to 20 percent of all AMD cases, but is responsible for 90 percent of the severe vision loss due to AMD.
A study found that the prevalence of nAMD in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, the US and Japan is around 3.6 million patients, of which 2.5 million are diagnosed and only 1.7 million receive treatment.
