Biocon Ltd said it has received European approvals for generic versions of AstraZeneca’s cholesterol drug Crestor, opening up a billion dollar market.
The approval has been obtained for Rosuvastatin Calcium 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg tablets, indicated for hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia.
Biocon Chairperson & Managing Director Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said: “This approval paves the way for Biocon to launch Rosuvastatin Calcium tablets in several European countries. We plan to collaborate with regional partners in the near term to provide access to this affordable generic and thus help patients and governments to bring down their healthcare spends.”
“This first generic formulations approval in the regulated markets marks an important milestone in Biocon’s small molecules strategy of forward integration from APIs to finished dosages.
“The approval for Rosuvastatin Calcium, through decentralized procedure will open the doors for Biocon to over 15 European countries and will enable the company to address US$ 1.2 billion opportunity, starting FY17,” the company said.
Biocon was the first generic company to receive a Certificate of Suitability for Rosuvastatin Calcium API from the European Directorate for the Ouality of Medicines. CEP certification indicates that an API is suitable for use in medicinal products in the
EU.
Arun Chandavarkar, CEO and Joint Managing Director, Biocon said: “The European approval for Biocon’s generic version of Rosuvastatin Calcium underscores Biocon’s unique strengths in the chronic therapies space and our compliance with global standards that enable us to achieve the highest quality standards for all our products. It augurs well for this nascent business, which will be one of our growth drivers in the coming years.”
Biocon aims to rev up its generic formulations business with a target of 20-25 filings over the next few years. Its new potent oral solid dosage formulations facility coming up in Bengaluru will enable this business expansion, the company said.
The company is also working on dossiers to introduce these formulations in emerging markets where regulatory clearances are primarily based on approvals given by regulators in the US / EU.
Biocon has a portfolio of drugs spanning complex molecules ranging from cardiovascular and anti-obesity agents to immunosuppressants and narrow spectrum antibiotics.
It had filed an initial set of Marketing Authorization Applications (MAAS) in the EU and Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) in the US in ΡΥ15.