Biogenerics and new technologies compete with 1st generation major protein products insulins 
The US$ 32 bln market of six major protein products is enfacing competition by less costly biogenerics and by improved products via drug delivery or protein engineering technologies and even oral, small molecule solutions

BARCELONA, Spain | June 19, 2006 | The Business Intelligence firm La Merie S.L. reported today that the US$ 32 bln market of major protein products with commencing patent expiry is endangered by generic products and by innovator solutions including engineered molecules and drug delivery solutions. Examples are the first biogeneric somatotropin now approved in the US and the European Union and Pfizer's inhaled insulin. Both examples mark the entry of new players into the lucrative human growth hormone (hGH) and insulin markets. More hGH biogeneric products including slow release formulations are approaching the US$ 2.3 bln market and lead to erosion and conversion from an innovator to a biogeneric market. Although estimated price cuts of 25 to 30 % will be less than those for small molecule generics, cost pressure in the health care markets will support acceptance of biogeneric products. The US$ 11.2 bln erythropoietin market will face tough competition by consolidated biogeneric manufacturers. Numerous drug delivery solutions and protein engineering approaches are filling the pipelines with interferon, G-CSF, insulin and FSH products. These results and more were found in a search conducted by La Merie Business Intelligence. The competitor analysis can be acquired at www.pipelinereview.com, La Merie's News Center and Online Store. More information will be provided in the Biogenerics miniseries published in the FREE daily R&D Newsletter of PipelineReview.com beginning June 19..

The competitor analysis covers the field of eight product families: erythropoietin, human growth hormone, interferon, insulin, G-CSF, follicle stimulating hormone, thrombopoietin (TPO) agonists and thrombolytics. The pipeline evaluation includes the market description of the first generation products and a compilation of next generation projects, drug delivery solutions, protein engineering approaches, orally available small molecules and biogeneric projects in Western countries as well as in countries with insufficient patent protection.

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R&D Pipeline News is a premier information source about research and development projects in the pipeline of the biopharmaceutical industry. The periodical is directed to all stakeholders in R&D. The weekly publication comes in a rapid- and easy-to-screen tabular format and provides access to the original information source via hyperlinks. R&D Pipeline News covers all relevant treatment modalities and is directly delivered to the desktop via e-mail. More information about the journal, a free trial and subscriptions are available via La Merie’s Business Intelligence Center www.pipelinereview.com .

About La Merie
La Merie S.L. is a Business Intelligence enterprise fully dedicated to provide high quality R&D information to the biopharmaceutical industry. La Merie offers individual consultancy services and publishes reports and periodicals.

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R&D Pipeline News is a premier information source about research and development projects in the pipeline of the biopharmaceutical industry and is directed to all stakeholders in R&D. The weekly publication comes in a rapid- and easy-to-screen tabular format and provides access to the original information source via hyperlinks. R&D Pipeline News covers all relevant treatment modalities and is directly delivered to the desktop via e-mail.