Mylan, Biocon Form Pact to Develop and Commercialize Insulin Products

Mylan has entered into a definitive agreement with Biocon Limited, an India-based biotechnology company, for an exclusive collaboration on the development and commercialization of generic versions of three insulin analog products, according to a Feb. 13, 2013, Mylan press release.

Under the collaboration, Mylan will have the rights to develop and market Biocon’s Glargine (the generic version of Sanofi’s Lantus), Lispro (the generic version of Eli Lilly’s Humalog) and Aspart (the generic version of Novo Nordisk’s NovoLog). Mylan and Biocon will share development, capital, and certain other costs to bring the products to market. Mylan will have exclusive commercialization rights in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, and European Free Trade Association countries through a profit-share arrangement with Biocon. Mylan will have co-exclusive commercialization rights with Biocon in certain other markets around the world.

“This collaboration builds off of our existing successful partnership for generic biologics with Biocon and brings Mylan a portfolio of high-value insulin analog products,” said Mylan CEO Heather Bresch, in the release. “This collaboration further expands and diversifies our pipeline of complex, difficult-to-manufacture products with strong future growth potential. Importantly, we believe we have the opportunity to be one of the first generic entrants in developed markets into the rapidly growing diabetes area, helping to address unmet needs and reduce the economic burden to those battling the disease and to the global healthcare system.”

According to public filings, reported worldwide net sales of Lantus, Humalog, and NovoLog for 2012 were approximately $11.5 billion.

“Mylan is a natural preferred partner for our portfolio of generic insulin analogs and this collaboration only further strengthens our existing successful partnership,” said Biocon chairman and managing director Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. “We are excited to team up with Mylan to be able to cost effectively address the disease and economic burden that diabetes poses to global health. We are confident that together we can build a strong global presence in generic insulin analogs and provide access to affordable therapy options to physicians, healthcare providers and diabetes patients worldwide.”