The biosimilar insulin glargine, which will be called Lusduna (MK-1293), is produced by US pharma giant Merck (known as MSD outside the US and Canada). The drug is a biosimilar of French drugmaker Sanofi’s diabetes drug Lantus (insulin glargine). The first biosimilar insulin glargine, Abasria (LY2963016), was approved for use in the European Union in September 2014 [1].

The teriparatide biosimilars, Movymia and Terrosa, are produced by German generics giant Stada Arzneimittel (Stada) and Hungary-based Gedeon Richter (Richter), respectively. The drugs are biosimilars of Eli Lilly’s osteoporosis treatment Forteo/Forsteo (teriparatide).

Teriparatide is a recombinant form of parathyroid hormone. It is an effective anabolic, i.e. bone growing, agent used in the treatment of some forms of osteoporosis. Sales of Eli Lilly’s blockbuster drug Forteo/Forsteo were US$1.3 billion for 2015.

Stada has in-licensed its teriparatide biosimilar from Richter-Helm BioTec, which developed the product [2]. Stada already markets a biosimilar in Europe, Silapo (epoetin zeta) [3] and has also in-licensed biosimilar filgrastim (Grastofil) and adalimumab products from Canada-based Apotex [4] and biosimilars specialist mAbxience [5], respectively. Stada also made a deal with Richter in 2011 for biosimilars of two monoclonal antibody products, rituximab and trastuzumab, which are used to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases [6]. In December 2015, Richter also submitted a marketing application to EMA for its proposed biosimilar to Amgen’s Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) [7].

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References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. European approval for biosimilar insulin [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2016 Nov 18]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/European-approval-for-biosimilar-insulin
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Stada in-licenses teriparatide biosimilar [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2016 Nov 18]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Stada-in-licenses-teriparatide-biosimilar
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars approved in Europe [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2016 Nov 18]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-approved-in-Europe
4. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Stada in-licenses biosimilar filgrastim [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2016 Nov 18]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Stada-in-licenses-biosimilar-filgrastim
5. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Stada to in-license adalimumab biosimilar [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2016 Nov 18]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Stada-to-in-license-adalimumab-biosimilar
6. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Stada and Richter to collaborate on biosimilar development [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2016 Nov 18]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Stada-and-Richter-to-collaborate-on-biosimilar-development
7. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Richter and DM Bio make deal for trastuzumab biosimilar [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2016 Nov 18]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Pharma-News/Richter-and-DM-Bio-make-deal-for-trastuzumab-biosimilar

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