On the third day of EASD 2021, four key press releases were observed from Nemaura, Biocon, Virta Health, and Dexcom. Below FENIX provides insights and context for the respective announcements.
Two diabetes-related news items have been observed: Viatris and Biocon announced FDA approval of Semglee (bs-glargine) as the first interchangeable biosimilar insulin product under the 351(k) regulatory pathway; and Sanofi hosted its Q2 ’21 earnings call and provided a brief update to its diabetes business. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights from the respective news items.
A series of diabetes-related news items have recently been observed: AZ announced FDA approval of Bydureon BCise for patients 10-17 years of age with T2DM; Biocon hosted its FY Q1 ’22 (CY Q2 ’21) earnings call; and a CT.gov record has been observed for MannKind’s first Afrezza Ph3 pediatric study, called INHALE-1. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights for the respective news items.
Six cardiometabolic-related news items have recently been observed from Dexcom, Abbott, Teladoc, Amarin, Biocon, and Merck. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights for the respective news items.
A series of cardiometabolic-related news items have been observed: Biocon/Viatris announced EC approval for their rapid-acting bs-insulin aspart, branded as Kixelle; Xeris announced it received EC approval for its RTU rescue glucagon product, branded as Ogluo; and Poxel announced its Q4 and FY ’20 earnings. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights for the respective news items.
Biocon hosted its CY Q4 ’20 (FY Q3 ’21) earnings call and provided updates on its biosimilar insulin portfolio. Importantly, Biocon disclosed that Christiane Hamacher, the CEO of Biocon Biologics, has resigned “due to professional differences with the chairperson on strategic priorities and vision for the company.” Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights from the call relating to the corporate restructuring and Biocon’s bs-insulin portfolio.
The CHMP agenda for this month (December 7-10) has been released, and it includes two notable items, potential CHMP opinions for Biocon/Mylan’s insulin aspart and Xeris’s glucagon, as well as several other agenda items. Below, FENIX provides diabetes-related highlights and insights from the December 2020 CHMP agenda.
Biocon/Mylan announced the US launch of its Semglee 10mL vials and pre-filled pens (glargine U100) at a 65% discount to Lantus. According to Biocon/Mylan, the WAC for a package of 5 x 3mL pens is $147.98 and a 10mL vial is $98.65. Interestingly, Biocon/Mylan said the Semglee pen price matches the Lantus 2007 WAC and the Semglee vial list price matches the Lantus 2010 price. Below, FENIX provides a comparative pricing analysis across the basal insulin market, the Semglee launch implications to Sanofi and Lilly, and thoughts on how the Biocon/Mylan strategy may impact other bs-glargine manufacturers (e.g. Sandoz/G&L and Lannett/HEC).
Mylan (press release; slides), Insulet (press release), and Becton Dickinson (press release; slides) hosted their respective Q2 ’20 earnings calls. Of note, Mylan disclosed it has submitted “all necessary documentation to seek biosimilar interchangeability [for Semglee]” as well as a BLA for its bs-aspart with FDA. Below, FENIX provides highlights and insights from the respective earnings calls.
Biocon hosted its CY Q2 ’20 earnings call (FY Q1 ’21) and provided updates to the business including its biosimilar insulins portfolio (view press release). Of note, Biocon Biologics CEO Christiane Hamacher commented that the recent Voluntis “…digital therapeutic is not a nice to have, it’s a must-have.” Below, FENIX provides an updated perspective on the Biocon/Voluntis partnership, including thoughts on how the partnership may signal that Biocon could have altered its bs-insulin strategy.