Biocon begins phase-3 trials for cancer drug

Company's partnership with Mylan has a portfolio of generic insulin analogs and biosimilars

Bio-technology major Biocon today said that it has made clinical progress in its partnered programmes with Mylan, a British pharma major.

The partnership has a portfolio of generic insulin analogs and biosimilars including monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and recombinant proteins at their various stages of development.

Two molecules Pegfilgrastim (PEG-G-CSF) and Adalimumab have entered global Phase 3 of clinical trials. While the PEG-G-CSF trial is underway, the Adalimumab trial was initiated recently.

Pegfilgrastim is used to reduce the chance of infection in people who have certain types of cancer and who are receiving chemotherapy medications. Meanwhile, Adalimumab is used to treat people with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, and children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

In addition, the Phase 3 global clinical trial for Trastuzumab, a drug used in chemotherapy for breast cancer and a type of gastric cancer, is progressing in over 100 sites around the world. An initial ROW focused Phase 3 trial for Bevacizumab is also underway.

Meanwhile, Biocon said that two global clinical trials for its generic insulin Glargine that was initiated in 2014, have made some progress. The patient recruitment for Type-1 diabetes study has been completed ahead of schedule, the company said in a statement, adding that the recruitment for Type-2 diabetes study is expected to be completed by July 2015.