After an extraordinary year that saw demand patterns and the supply chain upended by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a major merger that has transformed one of the global off-patent industry’s biggest players, Generics Bulletin’s Top 50 has once again seen significant changes.

Zentiva’s Zent2U B2B unit has reported progress on a bioequivalence study for its sitagliptin tablets, indicating that its version will be ready for day-one entry in Europe. The development comes shortly after Zent2U announced the successful completion of a sertraline study.

Plus deals involving Biosplice/Haisco, SciClone/Tarveda, Everest/Sinovent/SinoMab, Kyowa Kirin/AM-Pharma, Sandoz/Bio-Thera, Dr. Reddy’s/Citius, Jiangsu Hengrui/Mabworks, GeneQuantum/BrightGene, Innovent/GenFleet and Takeda/Mirum.

From clinical trials to in-person sales calls, the pharmaceutical value chain has been tested by the COVID-19 pandemic, but has held up. Nevertheless, recent friction within this chain may be more than a passing irritation.