In November 2019, Japanese drugmaker Mochida announced the launch of their teriparatide biosimilar. Teriparatide (marketed by Eli Lilly as Forteo) is an injection treatment for osteoporosis. It is a recombinant form of parathyroid hormone which leads to an increase in bone formation.

Mochida launched a 600 μg teriparatide subcutaneous injection kit, which was developed in collaboration with Hungarian firm Gedeon Richter. It is the first teriparatide biosimilar to be launched in Japan.

Shortly after, Tokyo-based firm Daiichi-Sankyo launched a bevacizumab biosimilar in Japan. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody treatment for a number of cancers including colon, lung and kidney cancer. The company are releasing intravenous drip infusions at two doses: 100 mg and 400 mg.

The product is developed by Amgen and was approved in September 2019 for unresectable advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer. Daiichi Sankyo will distribute and commercialize the product in Japan, according to an exclusive agreement on the commercialization of biosimilars signed with Amgen in 2016 [1].

This launch will increase Daiichi Sankyo’s share of the oncology drug market in Japan. The company launched a trastuzumab biosimilar on the Japanese market in 2018. Trastuzumab, sold under the brand name Herceptin, is a treatment for breast cancer.

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Reference
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Amgen and Daiichi Sankyo make deal for biosimilars in Japan [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Jan 24]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Pharma-News/Amgen-and-Daiichi-Sankyo-make-deal-for-biosimilars-in-Japan

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