Amgen’s European EPO biosimilar forecast
Executive Summary
Amgen does not expect to face competition from EPO biosimilars in Europe in 2006, Exec VP-Commercial Operations George Morrow said during an investor call April 18. Amgen had previously forecast biosimilar competition for Aranesp and Epogen by year-end."A few people have dropped out," Morrow said, pointing to the European Medicines Agency's extensive approval requirements, high capital costs and "the fact that there is not a tremendous amount of pricing room in the market" as factors making the market unattractive to potential biosimilar manufacturers. In February, Amgen highlighted its work with European regulators to ensure a large number of pre- and post-approval studies would be required for biosimilars (1"The Pink Sheet" Feb. 13, 2006, p. 13)...