South Korea remains an attractive prospect for biologics and biosimilars, with investment from both government and multinationals in this field.
South Korea has a long history in manufacturing biologics. The emergence of a number of Korean companies, including SK Chemicals and Chon Kun Dang, manufacturing generic versions of Roche’s Tamiflu (oseltamivir), indicates that some Korean companies are performing strongly. It also indicates that larger companies in the biosimilar sector have made considerable strides in R&D, manufacturing and distribution in recent years. SK Chemicals, for example, believes that it could have its version of oseltamivir for sale in less than a month after marketing approval is given. This is arguably the result of massive investment in this sector from both government agencies and multinational companies.
First of all, in August 2009 the government announced it had selected two provincial cities, Osong and Daegu, to become sites for high-tech medical-industrial clusters, which are expected to cost around US$5 billion in total. Construction began in 2009 and should be completed by 2012. The government hopes the project will make South Korea a regional pharmaceutical hub like the Boston Bio Cluster in the USA and the Kobe-Osaka-Kyoto triangle in Japan. This was followed by the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis announcing in October 2009 that they will be investing US$100 million into its research division for new drugs whilst also bolstering its biologics manufacturing capabilities. In a deal signed with the MIHWAF, Novartis also announced that they will be providing money for investment in local small-scale biologics manufacturers.
Further reading - A detailed analysis of the South Korean pharmaceutical market is available from Espicom: The Pharmaceutical Market: South Korea (published January 2010)
Showing posts with label Novartis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Novartis. Show all posts
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Monday, 26 October 2009
EU - EU Commission Raids Pharmaceutical Companies Suspected of Anti-Competitive Behaviour
The EU Commission carried out raids at several pharmaceutical companies on 6th October 2009, as part of its investigation into anti-competitive behaviour within the industry.
Surprise inspections were confirmed at sanofi-aventis, Teva, Novartis and Ranbaxy Laboratories.
This is the third time that the EU Commission has carried out raids. In January 2008, the EU Commission raided the offices of GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, sanofi-aventis and several generic competitors, and in November 2008, Teva, Servier and Krka Group were all raided.
In a statement the EU Commission said, “The Commission has reason to believe that the provisions of the EC Treaty prohibiting restrictive business practices and/or the abuse of a dominant market position... may have been infringed.”
However the regulators stressed, “The fact that the European Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself.”
The raids follow an 18-month inquiry into anti-competitive practices within the pharmaceutical industry, the findings of which were released in July 2009 (see EU - Competition Inquiry Findings Released). The inquiry found that at least 200 settlement agreements between generic and originator companies were known, and that many of these were formed to restrict generic entry onto the market.
The European Commission is already investigating Servier and some generic firms on suspicion of blocking a generic copy of the cardiovascular drug perindopril from entering the market.
Further reading - Pharmaceutical market profiles for all European countries are available from Espicom: Pharmaceutical Market Reports; Europe
Surprise inspections were confirmed at sanofi-aventis, Teva, Novartis and Ranbaxy Laboratories.
This is the third time that the EU Commission has carried out raids. In January 2008, the EU Commission raided the offices of GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, sanofi-aventis and several generic competitors, and in November 2008, Teva, Servier and Krka Group were all raided.
In a statement the EU Commission said, “The Commission has reason to believe that the provisions of the EC Treaty prohibiting restrictive business practices and/or the abuse of a dominant market position... may have been infringed.”
However the regulators stressed, “The fact that the European Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself.”
The raids follow an 18-month inquiry into anti-competitive practices within the pharmaceutical industry, the findings of which were released in July 2009 (see EU - Competition Inquiry Findings Released). The inquiry found that at least 200 settlement agreements between generic and originator companies were known, and that many of these were formed to restrict generic entry onto the market.
The European Commission is already investigating Servier and some generic firms on suspicion of blocking a generic copy of the cardiovascular drug perindopril from entering the market.
Further reading - Pharmaceutical market profiles for all European countries are available from Espicom: Pharmaceutical Market Reports; Europe
Thursday, 17 September 2009
UK - Increase in Parallel Exports Leads to Drug Shortages
There are medicine shortages in pharmacies across the UK, due to a sharp increase in parallel exports, as a result of current exchange rates.
In a survey of 150 community pharmacies, compiled by Chemist and Druggist in August 2009, nearly a third of respondents claimed patients had suffered because of delays in accessing medicines, while 89% said they were “very concerned” and 11% had “some concern” that patients would be affected.
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said that three pharmaceutical companies had been forced to arrange 77,020 shipments for the UK in January to May this year because of supply shortages, whereas in the same period in 2008 this amounted to just 6,134 cases.
Historically, drug prices in the UK have been comparatively high, and the country was often a destination for parallel imports from countries with lower prices, such as Greece and Spain. However, the weakening British pound against the euro has meant that prices of medicines have fallen and are now being exported to other EU countries.
The ABPI has put together a ‘watch list’ of 24 prescription drugs which pharmacies are having difficulties obtaining. However, manufacturers of these drugs have said that they provided more than enough to treat patients across the UK. For example, Novartis provided 65% more of Myfortic, a drug which prevents rejection in kidney transplant patients, than was required for patients in the UK, suggesting that much of it is being diverted for sale abroad.
Further reading - A detailed analysis of the UK pharmaceutical market, including some background information on parallel importing and exporting in the country, is available from Espicom: The Pharmaceutical Market: United Kingdom (published June 2009)
In a survey of 150 community pharmacies, compiled by Chemist and Druggist in August 2009, nearly a third of respondents claimed patients had suffered because of delays in accessing medicines, while 89% said they were “very concerned” and 11% had “some concern” that patients would be affected.
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said that three pharmaceutical companies had been forced to arrange 77,020 shipments for the UK in January to May this year because of supply shortages, whereas in the same period in 2008 this amounted to just 6,134 cases.
Historically, drug prices in the UK have been comparatively high, and the country was often a destination for parallel imports from countries with lower prices, such as Greece and Spain. However, the weakening British pound against the euro has meant that prices of medicines have fallen and are now being exported to other EU countries.
The ABPI has put together a ‘watch list’ of 24 prescription drugs which pharmacies are having difficulties obtaining. However, manufacturers of these drugs have said that they provided more than enough to treat patients across the UK. For example, Novartis provided 65% more of Myfortic, a drug which prevents rejection in kidney transplant patients, than was required for patients in the UK, suggesting that much of it is being diverted for sale abroad.
Further reading - A detailed analysis of the UK pharmaceutical market, including some background information on parallel importing and exporting in the country, is available from Espicom: The Pharmaceutical Market: United Kingdom (published June 2009)
Friday, 3 July 2009
UK - NICE Stands by Guidance on Anti-Cholinesterase Drugs
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) released guidance on anti-cholinesterase drugs in June 2009, recommending them for NHS patients with moderate Alzheimer’s disease only.
This is the same conclusion the watchdog reached in 2005, but NICE admitted that there had been errors in the initial economic model used to determine the cost-effectiveness of the drugs.
The guidance applies to Aricept (donezepil), marketed by Eisai and Pfizer, Novartis’ Exelon (rivastigmine) and Shire’s Reminyl (galantamine).
Eisai and Pfizer fought the original decision, arguing that the treatment should also be available to patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease. However, they will not appeal the latest guidance.
Further reading - An in-depth analysis of the UK pharmaceutical market, including some background information about NICE, is available from Espicom: The Pharmaceutical Market: United Kingdom (published March 2009)
This is the same conclusion the watchdog reached in 2005, but NICE admitted that there had been errors in the initial economic model used to determine the cost-effectiveness of the drugs.
The guidance applies to Aricept (donezepil), marketed by Eisai and Pfizer, Novartis’ Exelon (rivastigmine) and Shire’s Reminyl (galantamine).
Eisai and Pfizer fought the original decision, arguing that the treatment should also be available to patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease. However, they will not appeal the latest guidance.
Further reading - An in-depth analysis of the UK pharmaceutical market, including some background information about NICE, is available from Espicom: The Pharmaceutical Market: United Kingdom (published March 2009)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)