Pharma News
Fresh partnerships announced for ranibizumab and trastuzumab biosimilars
Prestige BioPharma has partnered with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (Dr Reddy’s) to commercialize their trastuzumab biosimilar, HD201, while MS Pharma has joined up with Formycon for the commercialization of its ranibizumab biosimilar, FYB201.
Spinoff updates: Merck’s Organon and Novartis’ Sandoz
Merck spinoff Organon has announced third quarter revenue of US$1.6 billion in 2021. This shows slight decline in women’s health medications but growth in biosimilar sales. Following its 2021 third quarter review, Novartis is considering the spinoff of its biosimilar division, Sandoz, as a standalone company.
Swiss Social Democrat’s for nationalization of Sandoz
In November 2021, the Social Democratic party in Switzerland urged the government to buy Novartis AG’s generics and biosimilars unit, Sandoz.
Biocon Biologics and Serum Institute Life Sciences partnership
On 16 September 2021, a strategic partnership was announced between India-based biologicals specialist Biocon Biologics Limited (BBL), and Indian vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute Life Sciences (SILS), a subsidiary of Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd.
Ustekinumab biosimilars: new international biopharma agreements
September and October 2021 saw new international agreements between biopharmaceutical companies regarding ustekinumab biosimilars. These were formed between BioFactura and Rani Therapeutics in the US, and China’s Bio-Thera Solutions and Pharmapark in Russia.
Agreement to produce similar biotherapeutic product in Turkey
On 22 October 2021, an important agreement was signed between Nobel Pharmaceuticals and the IBG-OzBio partnership for the manufacturing of a similar biotherapeutic product in Turkey. This hopes to be a springboard for further collaborations and medicinal product development in the country.
Collaborations to commercialize oncology biosimilars
New collaborations to commercialize oncology biosimilars have been announced between Sandoz and Bio-Thera Solutions, and between Innovent Biologics and Ascentage Pharma.
Licensing agreements signed for ustekinumab biosimilars
Bio-Thera Solutions have signed an exclusive commercialization and licensing agreement with Hikma Pharmaceuticals for the ustekinumab (Stelara) biosimilar BAT2206, similar to an agreement reached between Meiji Seika Pharma, Dong-A ST and Intas Pharmaceuticals.
Oncogen–BrightGene partnership
In June 2021, Malaysian oncology generics company, Oncogen, and China’s BrightGene Bio-Medical Technology announced that they are partnering to develop, manufacture, market and distribute generic drug products for the US market.
Menagen–CKD Middle Eastern partnership
Omani company, Menagen Pharmaceutical Industries and Korean company, Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp (CKD), have formed a strategic partnership to provide biosimilars to countries in the Middle East.
