Novo Nordisk announced plans to give away 90-day supplies of insulin for people who have lost their health insurance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on Novo’s response as well as insight into how Novo could be using the program for lead generation and to neutralize biosimilar insulin competition.
Lannett announced it has a Biosimilar Biological Product Development Type II meeting scheduled with FDA on June 9 to discuss the next steps in the clinical advancement of its biosimilar glargine. Lannett is developing the bs-glargine in partnership with YiChang HEC ChangJiang Pharmaceutical Co. (HEC Pharm). Below, FENIX provides insights on the Lannett development program in the context of the recent insulin conversion from a drug to a biologic as well as the November 2019 immunogenicity draft guidance.
Biocon has issued a press release announcing they received the FDA “Establishment Inspection Report” for the bs-glargine pre-approval inspection of its Malaysian manufacturing facility. The closing of the inspection comes after several failed inspections over the past few years. Below, FENIX provides thoughts on Biocon passing its inspection, including the impact on the impending June 2020 bs-glargine FDA action date.
A series of diabetes-related news has been observed including an announcement that Nemaura has entered into multiple non-binding agreements for its sugarBEAT CGM (press release) as well as the US District Court ruling favorably for Mylan/Biocon’s bs-glargine over Sanofi’s Lantus (press release). Below, FENIX provides brief thoughts on these announcements in the context of the recent news from Nemaura and the potential launch of Mylan/Biocon’s bs-glargine.
Mylan hosted its Q4 and FY 2019 earnings call and provided updates to its business. The vast majority of the call revolved around the pending merger with Pfizer’s Upjohn. Of note, Mylan briefly discussed the US regulatory status of its bs-glargine and bs-aspart (in partnership with Biocon). Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights from the call.
Oramed announced positive topline results from Cohort B of the Ph2b trial evaluating its oral insulin (ORMD-0801) in T2DM patients. Oramed also hosted an associated call with investors to discuss the results. Recall, Oramed announced results from Cohort A of this Ph2b study in November 2019, which demonstrated a statistically significant result for the QD and BID doses but not with the TID dose (previous FENIX insight). Below, FENIX provides highlights of the new data and brief thoughts in the context of the previous Ph2b results, Tresiba’s CVOT (DEVOTE), and Novo’s QW basal insulin (icodec).
Biocon issued a press release stating it received a Form 483 with three observations following an FDA inspection (Feb 10-21) of its Malaysian manufacturing facility. The deficiencies were noted by FDA during the pre-approval inspection for the company’s biosimilar glargine. Recall, during Biocon’s recent earnings call, Biocon disclosed FDA has set an action date in June 2020. Below, FENIX provides brief thoughts on the failed inspection and how it could impact US commercialization of its bs-glargine product.
During the ATTD 2020 conference, a slide was presented with what is possibly Sanofi’s connected insulin pen solutions. Below, FENIX provides pictures and brief thoughts on the potential Sanofi connected pen platform for disposable and reusable insulin pens.
On the second day of the ATTD 2020 conference, a series of diabetes-related press releases have been observed including Abbott Libre RWE, Tandem to file Control IQ for peds in March 2020, Roche’s new “InsulinStart” program, Companion Medical compatibility with Fiasp, and MannKind Afrezza PK and pulmonary function data. Separate from the conference, FDA announced that it has issued a final rule on the definition of a biological product ahead of the March 23, 2020 insulin reclassification from a drug to a biologic. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights from the respective news items.
Novo Nordisk hosted its post-Q4 ’19 earnings event in London. Furthermore, Sanofi and Becton Dickinson held their respective Q4 ’19 earnings calls. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights from the earnings calls including Sanofi’s plans to divest its interest in efpeglenatide as well as thoughts on how Novo’s QW basal insulin icodec could have broader implications to the hybrid closed-loop market.