- The Indian pharma industry is estimated to grow at 9-11 per cent in 2021-22 and in the next few quarters, it will be driven by domestic and emerging markets, according to ratings agency ICRA. In a sample of 21 Indian pharmaceutical companies, ICRA said revenue growth was moderate at 6.4 per cent in the second quarter of FY22, down from 16 per cent in the first quarter of 2021-22. The normalization of the base and pricing pressures in the US market were the major reasons for slowing growth momentum in Q2 FY22, even as growth under domestic and emerging markets remained healthy, ICRA said in a statement. "Revenue growth for ICRA sample set is estimated at 9-11 per cent in FY2022 and in FY2023, supported by gradual recovery post the impact of COVID-19," ICRA Assistant Vice-President and Sector Head Mythri Macherla said. In FY22, the sample set is estimated to have witnessed growth of 13-15 per cent in the domestic market, 14-16 per cent in the emerging markets and 9-11 per cent in the European business, she added. ICRA said the emerging markets were the star performers clocking a robust 30.6 per cent year-on-year growth in Q2 FY2022. It added that growth for the sample set was primarily led by new launches, low base, strong demand and rupee depreciation.
- Molnupiravir, the antiviral drug which recently got emergency use approval for treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 in India, was launched at Rs 1,399 for the full five-day course, making it one of the cheapest antiviral coronavirus therapies during the pandemic. Over a dozen companies, including Hetero, Sun Pharma, Natco and Dr Reddy’s are in the process of rolling out the oral therapy developed by Merck and and its partner, Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, at prices ranging between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500 for the complete treatment, sources told TOI. The antiviral pill is being considered a potential gamechanger globally in Covid treatment as remdesivir used till now is administered intravenously, and in hospital settings. Mankind Pharma, which has tied up with BDR Pharmaceuticals, introduced its antiviral Molulife (200 mg) in Delhi and certain other parts of the country , a company official said. Further, Sun Pharma has priced the antiviral at around Rs 1,500 for the full course, and is making its ‘Molxvir’ available in markets where there are more cases, and gradually across India.?Earlier in June, MSD signed licensing agreements with five generic companies including Sun Pharma, Cipla, Torrent, Emcure and Dr Reddy’s to manufacture and supply molnupiravir in India, and to over 100 low and middle-income countries.
- Each year, many scientists and other experts working in the biopharma industry see years of their work culminate in FDA approvals. With the COVID-19 crisis stretching into its third year, the 2021 batch of new drug approvals clearly demonstrates that the sector has learned how to operate in a pandemic. All told, the industry nabbed 55 FDA approvals in 2021. They include the controversial accelerated approval for Biogen's Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, Pfizer's record-shattering COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, and many others. Not all 2021 approvals commanded as many headlines as Aduhelm and Comirnaty. Aside from those notable companies, also represented in 2021's crop of new approvals were Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Regeneron. And among the dozens of new drugs green-lit last year, companies such as BridgeBio, ChemoCentryx and Apellis won their first-ever FDA approvals, setting them up to make their commercial debuts. How does last year's class of new drug approvals compare to prior years? In 2020, the industry notched 55 approvals for new molecular entities, up from 48 in 2019 but down from 58 in 2018. The numbers for our annual roundup typically vary slightly from the FDA's official list, because our report includes approvals for notable biologics such as vaccines and cell therapies. We also exclude diagnostic imaging agents, which are represented on the FDA's list.
- Samsung Group is in talks to buy Biogen in a deal that could be worth $42 billion, the Korea Economic Daily reported Wednesday, citing investment banking sources. If the report is true—and if negotiations succeed—Samsung would take control of Biogen at a time when the biotech is laboring to launch its controversial Alzheimer’s drug, Aduhelm, and suffering from declining revenues as generics eat away sales of its flagship multiple sclerosis drug, Tecfidera. For Samsung, the deal would be a big step forward in the biopharma world. Already a fast-growing contract manufacturer and a biosimilars maker, Samsung would gain a foothold in new drug development. It'd also scoop up Biogen's marketed drug franchises that generated $13.44 billion last year, enough to make the biotech a top 20 pharmaceutical company worldwide. Meanwhile, Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Biogen is gearing up for layoffs as part of a $500 million cost-cutting drive. It’s also slashing Aduhelm’s price in half as of January 1, 2022, in a bid to jump-start the sluggish rollout. Despite the FDA's backing in the form of an accelerated approval, the drug has seen limited use so far. It generated just $300,000 in third-quarter sales.
- Biocon Biologics Ltd.'s board approved a merger with a new vaccine subsidiary of the Serum Institute of India. Biocon Ltd.'s arm approved allotment of 15% of the equity share capital of Biocon Biologics to the Serum Institute for merger with Covidshield Technologies Pvt., according to an exchange filing. The deal, subject to statutory approvals, doesn't involve any cash payments. Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer at Serum Institute, will have a seat on Biocon Biologics' board. Biocon Biologics, a biosimilars and biologics company, will get committed access to 10 crore doses of vaccines annually for 15 years after the merger, first announced in September. The doses will be provided from the Serum Institute's upcoming vaccine facility in Pune with commercialization rights for a vaccine portfolio, including Covid shots, for global markets. Biocon Biologics is expected to generate a committed revenue stream and related margins starting the second half of fiscal 2022-23, said the filing. Biocon Biologics had a net worth of Rs 3,185 crore and generated revenue of Rs 1,941 crore in the year ended March 2021. Covidshield Technologies had no revenue during the year and a net worth of Rs 70,000.
References: Quint, mint, TOI, Fierce Pharma, ETHealthworld?
