Mochida has launched the first Japanese teriparatide biosimilar rival to Eli Lilly’s blockbuster osteoporosis drug Forteo. The company is hoping for big sales for the injectable in the country where the government is aiming to rein in healthcare costs for its rapidly ageing population.

Richter’s Terrosa biosimilar to Lilly’s Forsteo teriparatide brand made a modest start in Europe. But the Hungarian group still posted nine-month Pharmaceutical sales growth of 8.1%.

For the first time, a working group within the International Council for Harmonization has started work on a regulatory topic specifically tailored to the global generics and biosimilars industry.