A second biosimilar from Apotex is under review in US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Canadian Apotex announced on February 13, 2015 that FDA has accepted company application for its biosimilar filgrastim (original brand — Neupogen, Amgen). Filgrastim is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor used to stimulate neutrophil production in bone marrow of patients undergoing chemotherapy, which allows them to fight…

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Hospira and Phenex entered into an agreement to collaborate on development and commercialization of a biosimilar of Lucentis (ranibizumab) from Novartis

America-based Hospira specializes in injectables. Pfenex is an American biotechnology company. Ranibizumab is a monoclonal antibody to endothelial growth factor A used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration and resulting loss of vision. Lucentis global turnover amounted to US$4 billion in 2014. Russian Lucentis sales reached…

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Pfizer is planning to lead the generics and biosimilars market

Pfizer is planning to lead the generics and biosimilars market. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has announced the acquisition of American Hospira for US$17 billion. Hospira products will become a part of Pfizer’s Global Established Pharmaceuticals (GEP) generics unit. Presumably GEP is a candidate for a potential spinoff. If the acquisition…

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Irish specialty pharmaceutical company Shire is acquiring NPS Pharmaceuticals, an American manufacturer of drugs for rare diseases

The deal is worth $5.2 bln. Shire global sales exceeded US$5 billion in 2013. Company’s top products include Vyvanse for ADD and Elaprase for mucopolysaccharidosis type II. Shire’s Elaprase, Replagal and Vpriv, which used to treat rare hereditary diseases caused by enzyme deficiencies, are present in Russia. Shire became a target…

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American pharmaceutical company Mylan is acquiring Abbott’s generics business and increasing its presence in women’s health

The European Commission (EC) approved the acquisition of specialty and branded generics unit of Abbot Laboratories' non-U. S. Developed Markets Specialty and Branded Generics Business (Abbott EPD-DM). This Swiss-based division of Abbott distributes branded ex-originator products with expired patents, which include a women’s health…

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Biopharma M&A deals exceeded $200 bln in 2014

The main volume of deals was among the specialty pharma companies, while big pharma spent $90 bln on acquisitions. Big pharma’s primary goal for M&A activities is to create business focused on strategic therapy areas and to divest non-core assets, both of which can make companies more profitable. Specialty pharma, on the other…

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EvaluatePharma® released a report on top-5 products to lose patent protection in 2015

EvaluatePharma® released a report on top-5 products to lose patent protection in 2015

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Merck is acquiring an antibiotic developer and manufacturer Cubist for $9.5 bln

Merck is acquiring an antibiotic developer and manufacturer Cubist for $9.5 bln. Cubist’s Cubicin (daptomycin) global sales exceeded $1 bln. in 2013. Cubicin is marketed by Novartis in Russia...

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