More about biosimilars

Glossary 

Biopharmaceuticals

Biotechnology is man’s use of the cell’s chemistry to produce therapeutically useful proteins in significant industrial quantities. Biopharmaceuticals are medicines produced using biotechnological methods. Living organisms are used to produce large and complex protein molecules, often using so-called recombinant technologies. It is estimated that, by 2010, 50% of newly approved medicines will be biopharmaceuticals.

Omnitrope

Omnitrope® is a synthetic form of human growth hormone developed by Sandoz. It is the first biosimilar product to be approved in Europe and the US (both 2006) and thus represents a new class of medicines. Omnitrope® is structurally and chemically identical to pituitary growth hormone and reference medicine Genotropin and has clinically proven safety and efficacy. It is available for a range of clinical indications where growth hormone replacement therapy has been shown to be beneficial.

Epoetin alfa/Binocrit

Epoetin alfa, one of the first biopharmaceuticals, is a life-saving anemia medicine already used by an estimated 250 000 people in Europe alone. The Sandoz biosimilar version (trade names Binocrit® and Epoetin alfa Hexal®) was approved by the EU in 2007. Following the launch of Omnitrope in 2006, Epoetin alfa Hexal®/ Binocrit® represents the next step up the biosimilars development ladder, both in terms of technical complexity and of market potential. Epoetin alfa is marketed under various brand names to regulate the formation of red blood cells, particularly in patients suffering from anemia as a result of kidney failure or chemotherapy.