(Yicai) Aug. 11 -- A unit of China’s Sino Biopharmaceutical has received market approval in Algeria for a biosimilar of adalimumab, a treatment for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease.

Algeria's National Agency for Pharmaceutical Products approved the adalimumab biosimilar developed by Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group (CTTQ), the Jiangsu province-based subsidiary announced recently. The drug, commonly sold under the brand Humira, is used for a range of conditions to reduce inflammation.

Biosimilars are highly similar to original biologic drugs but are typically more affordable, entering the market after patents on the original products expire.

CTTQ said Algeria, Africa’s largest country with nearly 2.4 million square kilometers and 47 million residents, is a key market in its global expansion strategy for biosimilars. The company plans to work with local partners to speed up commercialization.

China’s National Medical Products Administration has strengthened its biosimilar approval process since 2015, requiring clinical trials to demonstrate comparable efficacy and ongoing safety monitoring. As of last year, China had approved more than 20 biosimilars, including CTTQ’s adalimumab.

CTTQ also markets other biosimilars in China, including bevacizumab for lung and kidney cancer, rituximab for blood cancers and rheumatoid arthritis, and trastuzumab for breast cancer. The firm has also gained approval for its self-developed benmelstobart, targeting lung and womb cancers.

The company operates large-scale research, development, and manufacturing facilities in Nanjing and Lianyungang, Jiangsu, with production lines certified to standards set by the European Union and the US Food and Drug Administration.

Editor: Emmi Laine