Sandoz announces plans for five major global biosimilar launches by 2020

Investments of more than USD 1 billion in state of-the-art biomanufacturing facilities, backed by industry-leading capabilities as part of Novartis, positions Sandoz to deliver biosimilars at unprecedented scale.

The five launches will be enabled by an aggressive regulatory submissions strategy of 11 filings over a 3-year period (2015–2017). Furthermore, plans to invest over USD 1 billion, between 2010 and 2020, in state-of-the-art biomanufacturing facilities in Schaftenau and Kundl, Austria are expected to ensure that Sandoz’ biosimilar medicines reach patients and healthcare professionals around the world.

"Despite the impressive medical advances of the past century, access to medicines remains the single largest unmet healthcare need in developed and developing countries alike,” said Richard Francis, Division Head and CEO of Sandoz. Francis continued: “Biologics have revolutionized treatment of many disabling and life-threatening diseases, but far too many people who need these medicines are not able to access them. At Sandoz, we are committed to significantly broadening patient access to biologics with a series of major biosimilar launches over the next few years.”

Subject to regulatory requirements and approvals, Sandoz’ upcoming launches will include biosimilars of Enbrel (etanercept), Humira (adalimumab), Neulasta (pegfilgrastim), Remicade (infliximab) and Rituxan (rituximab). Together these biologics generated approximately USD 43.6 billion in 2015 global sales. Sandoz has already announced six of the 11 planned filings in the last 12 months — the most recent being EMA file acceptance of biosimilar rituximab (May 2016). Sandoz’ early-stage pipeline has additional assets in oncology, as well as other specialty therapeutic areas with plans to start new programs every year.

Building on decades of experience

Sandoz has a strong first mover advantage having launched the world’s first biosimilar (Omnitrope in the EU, 2006), the first biosimilar in Japan (Somatropin BS S.C., 2009) and the first biosimilar approved under the new regulatory pathway in the US (Zarxio, 2015). It has significantly grown its biosimilar business and continues to deliver double-digit growth for its three in-market medicines. Biosimilars form a significant part of Sandoz’ biopharmaceutical business which had 2015 sales of USD 772 million. Sandoz’ future biosimilar offerings are expected to see it expand further in oncology and enter the immunology space – two therapy areas where its products are set to benefit from being part of a broader Novartis portfolio.

USD 1 billion earmarked for capacity expansion program in Austria

Sandoz, which started developing and manufacturing biologics in 1980, has built industry-leading capabilities in biopharmaceutical development and production. Over the period of 2010 to 2020, capital expenditures of USD 1 billion have been earmarked for expanding the state-of-the-art biomanufacturing facilities required to supply the growing patient base benefitting from Sandoz biosimilars and Novartis novel biological drugs. As part of the Novartis Group, Sandoz has access to deep therapeutic area capabilities in clinical development and commercialization as well as manufacturing know-how, helping to deliver on its pipeline assets.