Sandoz, the generics arm of Novartis, has partnered with Biocon, a Bangalore, India-based pharmaceutical company, to develop, manufacture, and commercialize multiple biosimilars in immunology and oncology.

Under the agreement, both companies will share responsibility for end-to-end development, manufacturing, and global regulatory approvals for a number of products and will have a cost and profit share arrangement globally. Sandoz will lead commercialization in North America and the European Union while Biocon will lead commercialization in the remaining countries.

Biocon has launched the following biosimilars: insulin glargine in Japan; trastuzumab and bevacizumab in India, two biosimilars respectively of Roche’s Herceptin and Avastin, two anti-cancer drugs; and rh-insulin, insulin glargine, and the biosimilar trastuzumab in a few emerging markets.

Source: Novartis and Biocon