Press Release: Biotech medicines: first biosimilar drug on EU market

Two decades after the first drugs produced by biotechnological means (as opposed to 'normal' chemical pharmaceuticals) arrived on the EU market, a. number of these patents were expiring. This meant that the first ‘biogenerics’ - called biosimilar medicines - were about to enter the EU pharmaceutical market. The European Commission supported this development, given biosimilar alternatives were less costly while being safe and efficient like the 'original' biotech drugs. The European Commission in April 2006 granted the first marketing authorisation for such a biosimilar product.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 21.04.06: First biosimilar drug gets EU market authorisation http://www.euractiv.com/health/biosimilar-drug-gets-eu-market-a-news-216541

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