In line with our mission that all South Africans should have access to world class affordable medicines, Cipla in collaboration with Teva launched Filgrastim, the country’s first biosimilar for oncology and haematology in 2018.

Cipla investing in biosimilars is part of a long term strategy for the future with a focus on the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. The introduction of biosimilars will provide more treatment options, increase access to lifechanging medicines, and potentially lower healthcare costs through price competition.

Continuing on this journey, Cipla in February 2022 launched Infliximab its first biosimilar for the treatment of immune mediated inflammatory disease. Cipla have also recently entered into an exclusive partnership with Alvotech to bring key biosimilars to patients in South Africa. To date the candidates, include five biosimilar medicines – two for oncology and three for treating auto-immune diseases.