Bio-Thera Solutions Expands Partnership with Intas for Golimumab Biosimilar BAT2506 in India
Key Insights
Bio-Thera Solutions (search) announced an exclusive commercialization and license agreement with Intas Pharmaceuticals for BAT2506, a proposed golimumab biosimilar, marking Bio-Thera's first biosimilar partnership for the Indian market.
BAT2506 targets tumor necrosis factor alpha (search) (TNF-α (search)) and is designed to treat autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (search), psoriatic arthritis (search), ankylosing spondylitis (search), and ulcerative colitis (search).
The partnership combines Bio-Thera's development expertise with Intas' strong market presence to increase access to high-quality biosimilar therapies across India.
Bio-Thera Solutions (search), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Guangzhou, China, has announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Intas Pharmaceuticals through an exclusive commercialization and license agreement for BAT2506, a proposed golimumab biosimilar, in the Indian market. The announcement, made on March 23, 2026, represents Bio-Thera's first biosimilar partnership specifically targeting India.
Strategic Partnership Details
The collaboration builds upon an existing relationship between the two companies, with the new agreement granting Intas exclusive rights to commercialize BAT2506 in India. According to Bert Thomas, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Bio-Thera, "This marks Bio-Thera's first biosimilar partnership for India. Bio-Thera views India as an important growing market with lots of patients that can be helped by BAT2506 and other biosimilars in our pipeline."
Binish Chudgar, Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Intas Pharmaceuticals, emphasized the strategic value of the expanded collaboration: "By combining Bio-Thera's development expertise with Intas' strong market presence, we aim to bring trusted immunology treatments to patients while supporting the growing need for advanced biologic options across the country."
BAT2506 Mechanism and Therapeutic Applications
BAT2506 is a proposed biosimilar of golimumab, a human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that specifically targets tumor necrosis factor alpha (search) (TNF-α (search)), a key pro-inflammatory molecule. The binding of golimumab to TNF-α results in significant reductions in multiple inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1), Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3), and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).
The reference medicine golimumab has received approval in Canada for several autoimmune indications, including rheumatoid arthritis (search), psoriatic arthritis (search), ankylosing spondylitis (search), and ulcerative colitis (search). These conditions represent significant therapeutic areas where biosimilar alternatives could improve patient access to treatment.
Company Portfolios and Market Position
Bio-Thera Solutions (search) has established itself as a leader in next-generation antibody discovery and engineering, with six approved products currently in its portfolio. These include QLETLI® (adalimumab) and BETAGRIN® (bevifibatide citrate) Injection in China, STARJEMZA® (ustekinumab) in the US and USYMRO® (ustekinumab) in the EU, Gotenfia® (golimumab) in the EU, and TOFIDENCE® (tocilizumab) and AVZIVI® (bevacizumab-tnjn) in the US and EU. The company maintains more than 20 candidates in clinical trials, with a focus on immuno-oncology and targeted therapies such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
Intas Pharmaceuticals brings substantial market presence to the partnership, operating as a vertically integrated pharmaceutical company with group revenues of USD 2.6 billion. The company maintains operations in 85 countries and employs over 22,000 people, with strong in-house biosimilar capabilities encompassing more than 15 marketed products.
Strategic Implications for Indian Market
Alex Falgas, Global SVP – BD Portfolio & Strategy at Accord Healthcare, highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration: "This collaboration is a strategic addition to our immunology portfolio, reinforcing our focus on partnering for high-quality, science-driven biosimilar assets for the Indian market. It strengthens our position in a key therapy area and reflects our commitment to building long-term, value-driven alliances."
The partnership positions both companies to address the growing demand for advanced biologic treatment options in India, a market that Bio-Thera identifies as having significant patient populations that could benefit from biosimilar therapies. Thomas indicated that this agreement represents "just the beginning of Bio-Thera's efforts to bring innovative therapies to India."