Fujifilm Pharma to launch diabetes product in Japan

Biocon on Saturday announced that its partner Fujifilm Pharma Co would launch bio-similar product Insulin Glargine in Japan after receiving approval from the Japanese health authority earlier this year.

In the BSE filing Biocon said, "Close on the heels of receiving approval for its Insulin Glargine from the Japanese regulator last year, its partner Fujifilm Pharma Co has launched the product in Japan today."

In March this year, Biocon received approval from the Japanese health authority to sell its bio-similar product Insulin Glargine.

The statement also stated that the launch of bio-similar Insulin Glargine in Japan furthers the company's mission to provide affordable access to high quality bio pharmaceuticals for chronic diseases.

The sale of Glargine, for Biocon and Fujifilm Pharma has been approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan.

The company aims to capture a significant share of the Japanese Glargine market of USD 144 million which is the second largest market outside of North America and Europe and is largely dominated by disposable pens.

The product is ready-to-use prefilled disposable pen with three ml of 100IU Insulin Glargine and is expected to be launched in the first quarter of the next fiscal.

The company has marketing approvals in over 60 countries. It is also developing Insulin Glargine for the developed markets outside of Japan in collaboration with Mylan.