BioXpress Therapeutics and Abzena, two service providers with expertise in biosimilar development, have partnered to support biosimilar development for third party customers. The companies plan to offer a “flexible and innovative approach from small scale biosimilar development through to large scale manufacturing.” 

Sun Pharma has expanded its dermatology portfolio by entering into a partnership with Italy’ Cassiopea to market Winlevi (clascoterone) 1% cream in the US and Canada, and expects to make it available in the US inthe fourth quarter of 2021.

Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson have settled long-running US antitrust litigation over claims that contracts and deals for the Remicade brand were set up to dampen competition from infliximab biosimilars.

Japan’s Meiji Seika Pharma and Korea’s Dong-A have struck an exclusive licensing deal with Intas for global rights to the pair’s DMB-3115 proposed ustekinumab biosimilar to Stelara.

Stada has struck a licensing and commercialization deal with Calliditas worth more than $100m to partner on a novel oral formulation of budesonide to treat Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy in Europe.

With plans to drive continuous innovation in drug administration technology and further implement state-of-the-art production capabilities, Swiss-based private equity Partners Group has announced a deal to acquire long-acting injectables specialist Pharmathen.

After “four years of vigorous litigation,” Pfizer has reached a preliminary settlement over allegations that it devised an “illegal scheme” with Viatris’ Mylan “to monopolize the market” for the EpiPen autoinjector device.

US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order asking the FTC to ban so-called “pay-for-delay” reverse-payment settlements. According to the order, this could help curb high prices that are in part the result of lack of competition among drug manufacturers. However, talking exclusively to Generics Bulletin, AAM senior vice president Jeff Francer insists on a balance, explaining that such settlements result in earlier access to biosimilars and generics.

Firms censured by the UK’s CMA competition regulator over illegal deals that drove up the price of hydrocortisone for around a decade have vowed to appeal against the decision and the imposition of fines totaling more than £260m.