Sandoz has a place within Novartis as a more autonomous unit, the Swiss group’s CEO Vas Narasimhan says. But the generics and biosimilars division will have to sharpen up, aided by a 7% workforce cut.

Three companies are in the race to take over bankrupt Orchid Pharmaceuticals under a new round of bidding being held for the generic drugmaker after a previous takeover deal collapsed.

Alkem said it had a “mixed year”, registering growth in India and internationally despite setbacks that included a weak anti-infectives season and a recent Form 483 from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Bringing in a minority investor for its Glenmark Life Sciences raw materials unit and divesting non-core products are among the strategic priorities for Glenmark in its current financial year ending in March 2020.

Analysts said more challenges lie ahead for Zydus Cadila that will hobble earnings growth over the next couple of years, after the Indian firm reported a more than 20% slide in quarterly profit.

Alvogen has struck a deal with Insud’s Exeltis to gain rights to 23 women’s healthcare brands in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

As part of feedback on the future of insulin biosimilars in the wake of FDA guidance over transitioning insulins to biologic status, the agency has been urged to deem all biosimilar insulins interchangeable as well as to push back against originator attempts to shield individual product ‘ecosystems’ from competition.

Australian authorities are looking to drive uptake of biosimilar etanercept by broadening a reimbursement listing for MSD’s Brenzys, while an advisory committee continues to ponder listings for trastuzumab biosimilars.

The agency hopes application volume increases, but warns the biosimilar user fee revenue will remain volatile.

A buyers club in the UK is planning to import generic versions of Vertex’s cystic fibrosis drugs that are not available on the NHS.  Some commentators think such clubs may become more common.

Plans for substituting biological drugs at pharmacy level that have been passed by Germany’s lower house of parliament threaten to undo the good work done to date in winning trust in biosimilars, local industry association Pro Biosimilars fears.

Originator-backed lobbying group the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines has raised concerns over a biosimilar switching policy recently unveiled by the Canadian province of British Columbia.

An Oklahoma judge is withholding approval of the state’s proposed $85m out-of-court opioid settlement with Teva until he gets assurances that it complies with state law.

Sandoz has a place within Novartis as a more autonomous unit, the Swiss group’s CEO Vas Narasimhan says. But the generics and biosimilars division will have to sharpen up, aided by a 7% workforce cut.

Heritage has clarified that its recent settlement deal with the US Department of Justice over price-fixing allegations did not include the company entering a guilty plea.

Sandoz has a place within Novartis as a more autonomous unit, the Swiss group’s CEO Vas Narasimhan says. But the generics and biosimilars division will have to sharpen up, aided by a 7% workforce cut.

As part of feedback on the future of insulin biosimilars in the wake of FDA guidance over transitioning insulins to biologic status, the agency has been urged to deem all biosimilar insulins interchangeable as well as to push back against originator attempts to shield individual product ‘ecosystems’ from competition.

Australian authorities are looking to drive uptake of biosimilar etanercept by broadening a reimbursement listing for MSD’s Brenzys, while an advisory committee continues to ponder listings for trastuzumab biosimilars.

To help fund Phase III clinical trials and US sales and marketing efforts respectively, Glenmark is looking for partners for both its omalizumab biosimilar candidate and its Ryaltris olopatadine and mometasone combination spray.

The CHMP has confirmed its negative opinion on TLC Biopharmaceuticals’ doxorubicin hybrid. Meanwhile, Accord has received two posaconazole approvals, Zentiva has withdrawn an application for ambrisentan, and the EMA has launched a review of methocarbamol/paracetamol medicines.