Biopharmaceuticals manufacturer Biocon Ltd launched cancer medication Everolimus tablets in the US.
The formulation, a generic version of Afinitor from Novartis, is a prescription medication that is used to treat certain types of cancers and tumours.
The tablet has annual sales of around $675 mln in the US, which makes it among the larger drugs in the market.
It has been launched in four strengths of 2.5mg, 5mg, 7.5mg and 10mg, with the 10 mg tablet being a ‘day-1’ generic launch.
Biocon had got an approval for the product in February 2021.
Biocon said the company will continue to bring “complex, vertically integrated and affordable generic formulations” to the market.
“We will continue our focus on innovation and enhancing capacities to launch new products that make affordable healthcare accessible to millions of patients the world over,” it said.
The launch, it said, is part of its strategy to focus on vertically integrated, complex Finished Dosage Formulations (FDF) in niche therapeutic areas using in-house Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) capabilities.
Biocon is different from other Indian pharma companies in that it spends much more on research and development and focuses on innovative products. The company is especially strong in areas like diabetes, cancer and autoimmune diseases.
It has developed and commercialized novel biologics, biosimilars, and complex small molecule APIs in India and several key global markets, as well as generic formulations in the US and Europe.