July 19 Company Quick Takes: First biosimilars of Avastin, Herceptin launched; plus Gilenya, Celltrion-Nan Fung and Celgene

Amgen, Allergan launch pair of biosimilars
Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) and Allergan plc (NYSE:AGN) launched Mvasi bevacizumab-awwb and Kanjinti trastuzumab-anns in the U.S.; they are the first biosimilars of Avastin bevacizumab and Herceptin trastuzumab available in the country. Mvasi is approved for five cancer types, and Kanjinti for Herceptin's indications in breast and gastric cancer. Each biosimilar's wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) is 15% below its reference product's.

Novartis gains Gilenya approval in China
China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved Gilenya fingolimod from Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in patients ages 10 or older. The S1P receptor antagonist's regulatory clearance follows China's approval of Novartis' IL-17A inhibitor Cosentyx secukinumab in March to treat psoriasis. On Thursday, Novartis reported double-digit growth in China sales for 2Q19 (see “Payers, Patients Coming on Board for Novartis’ Zolgensma”)...