Biocon sales and marketing update

Biocon said it will launch Canmab - its biosimilar of Herceptin trastuzumab - in India in the first week of February. The Drugs Controller General of India approved Canmab in November for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Biocon and Mylan Inc. (NASDAQ:MYL, Canonsburg, Pa.) are co-developing Canmab under a 2009 deal (see BioCentury, Dec. 9, 2013).

Biocon said a 440 mg vial of Canmab will be available at Rs57,500 ($932) and a 150 mg vial at Rs19,500 ($316). According to Biocon, Herceptin is sold at Rs75,000 ($1,215) per 440 mg vial in India, so Canmab will be sold at a 23% discount to the innovator product. Herceptin is not available in India in the 150 mg vial, according to Biocon. In the U.S. the wholesale acquisition cost for Herceptin is $3,512 for the 440 mg vial. ...