Novartis finally has confirmed plans to begin a strategic review for its Sandoz generics and biosimilars business, following years of conjecture and suggestions from the market. However, the originator stressed that it will take its time with a decision, while underlining that keeping Sandoz is among its choices.

South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare is continuing along the path of offloading assets that no longer fit into its strategy, using the proceeds to pay off its substantial debt pile and reinvest in areas of greater strategic focus. Half-a-dozen products currently offered in its local market are now on their way to Switzerland’s Acino.

Analysts in Q3 pounced on a quirk in the complex US healthcare system that has provided small relief to Biogen’s much-depleted Tecfidera franchise in the US in the face of many generic rivals.

Roche gave small insight into its expectations around biosimilar competition for its Actemra/RoActemra (tocilizumab) treatment for inflammatory diseases. Extraordinary demand for the biologic led sales to skyrocket by 143% in the third quarter and caused supply constraints for the originator.

Months after obtaining the first US FDA designation of interchangeability, for its Semglee biosimilar to Sanofi’s Lantus, Viatris has seen a return on its investment, with the biosimilar scooping preferred status on one of the largest national formularies in the US.

Roche upended expectations for biosimilar Lucentis (ranibizumab) in the US, with a recent licensing deal signed with biosimilar sponsor Samsung Bioepis keeping the first proposed rival from the market until June 2022. The originator is also confident its pipeline assets will stem competition.