Hospira, Inc., a global leader in biosimilars and the world's leading provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies, announces the availability of Inflectra (infliximab) in Canada, the country's first subsequent entry biologic (SEB) monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy. Approved by Health Canada, Inflectra is available to healthcare practitioners for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and plaque psoriasis. 

An SEB (also referred to as a 'biosimilar' outside of Canada) is a biologic medicine made from a living organism or cell. SEBs deliver comparable clinical effects to their reference biologics while providing the opportunity for cost savings to the Canadian healthcare system.

"By providing subsequent entry biologic therapies, we can offer patients better access to high-quality, effective treatment options, and can help alleviate some of Canada's healthcare costs," said Gerry Stefanatos, corporate vice president, Canada and Australia/New Zealand, Hospira. "We are very proud to bring Inflectra to Canada -- offering physicians, clinicians and patients a treatment option that maintains similar quality, efficacy and safety to its reference product."

In addition, Hospira has developed an in-depth patient assistance program to help provide infusion-clinic access to qualifying patients across Canada, along with numerous other patient services.

For more details, go to: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=175550&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2030528