24.04.2012

Watson, Actavis to Unveil Deal

Watson Pharmaceuticals aims to announce an agreement to buy Actavis for around $6 billion on Wednesday, April 25th, in a deal making it one of the world's biggest suppliers of generic drugs, sources familiar with the matter said. more14.06.2011

The World Of Biosimilars

Doubled-Edged Sword - The emergence of biosimilars has caused very large ripples in the biopharma pond, and has recently been called the most "disruptive technology" of the decade. True to a point, but dynamic change for some is usually accompanied by significant opportunity for others. This is the "double-edged sword" paradox of the biosimilars market.

In simple terms, biosimilars are the biotech industry's version of chemical generics. more29.03.2011

Biosimilars Seen as a $3.7 billion Drug Market by 2015

The worldwide market for copies of biotech medicines will grow to $3.7 billion by 2015, from just $243 million in 2010, as a raft of branded drugs lose patent cover, according to market analysis firm Datamonitor. Many drugmakers are seeing potential in the business of producing copycat versions of expensive biotechnology drugs as regulators draft new rules for their approval. more11.02.2011

Novartis Moves to Stop Execution Drug Reaching US

Novartis and its Sandoz unit, maker of a generic version of an anaesthetic used in lethal injections in the United States, have taken steps to try to stop the drug ending up in the United States. "Sandoz has also advised all of its subsidiaries with locally approved marketing authorisations for sodium thiopental to not sell the product to distributors or third parties that may be selling it into the U.S.," Novartis and Sandoz said in a statement. more10.02.2011

Sandoz Has 10 Biosimilars in Pipeline

Novartis´ generics unit Sandoz is working on eight to 10 new biosimilar molecules to cement its position as leading maker of copycat versions of pricey biotech drugs, the unit's head told Handelsblatt. The drug candidates are in varying stages of development, the head of Sandoz, Jeff George, was quoted as saying in the German paper's Wednesday edition. more01.02.2011

Genzyme, Sanofi Reach Agreement in Principle on Takeover Terms

U.S. biotech Genzyme and French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis have reached agreement in principle on the terms of a deal under which Sanofi would acquire Genzyme, three sources familiar with the situation told Reuters on Monday. more27.01.2011

Genzyme CEO Says Proxy Fight Not Likely

A proxy battle for control of Genzyme is unlikely, given the progress being made in discussions with Sanofi-Aventis, the U.S. biotech group's chief executive said on Thursday. Teams from both companies have been meeting to discuss a negotiated deal after Sanofi's $18.5 billion offer, worth $69 per share, was rejected by Genzyme as too low. Sanofi could ultimately seek to force the issue through a board fight. more27.01.2011

Sanofi's Chris Viehbacher Sees Progress in Genzyme Talks

Sanofi-Aventis has made progress in talks with U.S. bid target Genzyme and leaders of both companies may bump into each other in Davos this week, Sanofi's CEO said on Wednesday. Teams from both companies have been meeting to discuss a negotiated deal after Sanofi's $18.5 billion offer, worth $69 per share, was rejected by Genzyme as too low. "There are still gaps but I think we have made some progress," more11.01.2011

Novartis Starts Phase II Trial for Copy of Roche's Rituxan

Novartis advanced its bid to copies Roche's multi-billion dollar antibody drug rituximab on Monday, starting phase II trials for its own version of the blockbuster medicine. Drugs firms are racing to come up with versions of Roche's drug Rituxan, which raked in 6.1 billion Swiss francs ($6.33 billion) for it in 2009. Known as MabThera in Europe, it is used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and rheumatoid arthritis. more22.11.2010

Biosimilar Antibodies: EMA Adopts Guideline

European regulators adopted a new guideline on so-called biosimilar antibody drugs on Friday, paving the way for cheaper copies of multi-billion-dollar medicines for cancer and other serious diseases. As expected, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) did not publish the full document after it was endorsed by its committee of experts, but said it would be released on its website "shortly." A spokeswoman told Reuters earlier this week that publication could take a couple of weeks. more