Sandoz builds its momenta

With its Omnitrope somatropin now approved in both the U.S. and Europe, Sandoz International GmbH is setting its sights on building a franchise in follow-on biologics. Last week, it plunked down $75 million to expand its partnership with Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc. to develop three additional FOBs, building on a 2003 deal that is using MNTA's characterization technology to develop a generic low-molecular weight heparin.

Omnitrope, approved in Europe as Omnitrop, is a generic version of Genotropin human growth hormone (hGH) from Pfizer Inc. (PFE, New York, N.Y.). In May, it became the first follow-on version of a recombinant protein to be approved by FDA (see BioCentury, June 5)...