Sandoz chief predicts big wave of biosimilars

[industry_news]

The FDA's surprise approval of a generic version of the blood thinner Lovenox is buoying Sandoz's ambitious plans for the emerging biosimilar market. While not a protein therapy typical of biologics, Sandoz chief Jeffrey George tells Forbes that Lovenox's complex sugar structures make it hard to copy. And the agency's willingness to approve a copy will embolden others interested in making competing protein drugs. "It underscores that the FDA really does have the institutional courage to approve affordable high quality alternatives to some of the more difficult-to-make products that are out there. There were a lot of interests lined up against this approval," George says. Report


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