Sandoz launches Zarxio at 15% discount to Neupogen

The Sandoz unit of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) launched Zarxio filgrastim-sndz in the U.S. at a 15% discount to its reference drug, Neupogen filgrastim G-CSF from Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN). Zarxio is the first biosimilar approved and marketed in the U.S.

Novartis spokesperson Eric Althoff said Zarxio's wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) is $275.66 for a 300 ug/0.5 mL dose and $438.98 for a 480 ug/0.8 mL dose. The WAC for equivalent doses of Neupogen is $324.30 and $516.45, respectively. ...