Pharma News
Merck partners with Indian drugmakers to increase access to COVID-19 drug
On 27 April 2021, Merck & Co Inc (also known as MSD Pharmaceuticals) announced that it had partnered with five Indian generic drug manufacturers to expand production and access to its experimental COVID-19 drug.
Bevacizumab and insulin aspart non-originator biologicals to be sold in Russia
Singapore-based Prestige Biopharma (Prestige) has formed an agreement with Russian company Pharmapark to commercialize Prestige’s bevacizumab non-originator biological in Russia. Russian company Geropharm has also launched an insulin aspart non-originator biological on the market in the country.
Huons Lab and PanGen Biotech to develop denosumab biosimilar
On 20 April 2021, Korean pharmaceutical company, Huons Lab, announced the development of a denosumab biosimilar to treat osteoporosis. The company is working with PanGen Biotech and using their cell line culturing and purification technology.
PlantForm and partners in Brazil to develop pembrolizumab biosimilar
Canada-based PlantForm Corporation (PlantForm) have signed an agreement with partners in Brazil to develop a biosimilar of the cancer treatment pembrolizumab (Keytruda).
Biocon partners with Libbs for the sale of generics in Brazil
India-based biologicals specialist Biocon has formed an out-licensing agreement with Brazil-based company Libbs Farmaceutica for the sale of generic drugs in the country, marking Biocon’s entry into the Latin American market for generics.
New partnerships for Cipla and Samsung Bioepis
In March 2021, Cipla announced that its subsidiary, Cipla Gulf is expanding its partnership with Alvotech for the marketing and distribution of four biosimilar medicines in Australia and New Zealand. Samsung Bioepis also announced that it has signed a marketing partnership with Yuhan to launch its biosimilar of Humira (adalimumab), Adalloce, in South Korea.
Pfizer sells Chinese copy biologicals plant to WuXi Biologics
China-based WuXi Biologics announced on 17 March 2021 that it had made an agreement with Pfizer China to acquire its state-of-the-art biologicals manufacturing facilities as well as its labour force in Hangzhou, China.
Sandoz acquires GSK antibiotics and Perrigo generics sold to Altaris
In February 2021, Sandoz signed an agreement to acquire GSK’s cephalosporin antibiotics business. In March 2021, Perrigo Company sold their generic drug business to private investment firm, Altaris Capital Partners LLC.
Biocon Biologics partners to improve global access to cancer treatments and insulin
In February 2021, Biocon Biologics joined forces with international organizations to improve access to cancer and diabetes treatments. The India-based biological subsidiary of Biocon, entered into an agreement with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) to expand access to cancer biosimilars in over 30 countries in Africa and Asia as a part of the Cancer Access Partnership (CAP) [1]. In addition, they have become the first biosimilar insulin company to partner with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to promote and support the latter’s initiatives [2].
Korean biosimilars makers pipelines and expansion
Korean biosimilars makers have started conducting global clinical trials and are expanding into other markets with their biosimilars.
