Lotus Pharmaceuticals has expanded its biosimilar pipeline to five by bringing in rights in Taiwan and South East Asia markets to Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical’s biosimilar of Kyowa Kirin’s Nesp (darbepoetin alfa).

As the global generics industry had predicted, the unexpected growth seen in the first quarter of 2020 due to forward buying caused by COVID-19 levelled off in the second quarter. However, a few companies managed to report a “mixed” second quarter or a positive first half for 2020, even after experiencing challenges, such as operational interruptions, posed by the pandemic.

Second-quarter earnings results from two of the Big Three – Teva and Mylan – hold much of the intrigue in August, while more competition in the nascent Avastin biosimilar market could materialize in Europe.

Also, news on transactions involving Neurocrine/Idorsia, Neurotrope/Metuchen, jCyte/Santen, PTC/Censa, Hoth/Chelexa, Skyhawk/Merck & Co., Orexo/Gaia, Karo/J&J, MaxCyte/Caribou, Mediolanum/ElsaLys, Avectas/ONK