Celltrion Healthcare Canada Limited announced that Health Canada granted a notice of compliance (NOC) on January 3, 2023 for Vegzelma®, a biosimilar to Avastin® (bevacizumab for injection). The Health Canada authorization was based on a comprehensive data package of analytical, preclinical and clinical studies, demonstrating that Vegzelma® is highly similar to the reference product Avastin® in terms of efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics. Vegzelma® is approved for the treatment of five types of cancer, including metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC); locally advanced, metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); platinum-sensitive recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer; platinum-resistant recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer; and malignant glioma (WHO Grade IV) – glioblastoma.

Vegzelma® is an anti-cancer monoclonal antibody treatment biosimilar to Avastin® (bevacizumab). Vegzelma® is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody which selectively binds to and neutralizes the biologic activity of human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the key driver of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, and thereby inhibits the binding of VEGF to its receptors Flt-1 (VEGFR-1), and kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) (VEGFR-2), on the surface of endothelial cells. In Canada, Vegzelma® is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC); locally advanced, metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); platinum-sensitive recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer; platinum-resistant recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer; and malignant glioma (WHO Grade IV) – glioblastoma.