XOLAIR- going to Novartis Q1

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January 10, 2011
Novartis starts mid-stage trial of biosimilar version of Roche's Rituxan
by Matthew Dennis
Last Updated:January 10, 2011 11:22

Novartis announced Monday that its Sandoz unit started a mid-stage trial of a biosimilar version of Roche's Rituxan/MabThera (rituximab) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The company noted that results generated to date suggest that its biosimilar version of Rituxan "is highly similar to the reference product, justifying initiation of clinical studies."


Commenting on the news, Bank Vontobel analyst Andrew Weiss said "the launch of the Phase II programme for biosimilar rituximab clearly underlines Sandoz's leading position in the area of biosimilars." Sandoz said it currently has eight to 10 biosimilar molecules at various stages of development.


Last week, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals reported it signed a deal with Viropro to develop a biosimilar version of Rituxan and in 2010, Teva confirmed it had begun a clinical trial comparing Roche's product with its biosimilar version in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.


Speaking at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, Roche CFO Erich Hunziker said the company has a strategy to defend its biotechnology drugs from generic competition, but noted that "we would be stupid to tell our defence strategy." In reference to upcoming patent expirations, the executive commented that "you can be assured that we have three to four years to get prepared."

The consolidation of pharma is continuing, it will be fast and when complete very few will be left. You can thank the government health care thrusts for setting up a negitive environment for sales representatives. Access to all levels of the medical community is deminished. The ability to communicate is gone; less communication, less knowledge and better control. Pharma is also to blame for evolving the wide range of unnecessary speciality sales forces that the boy wonders have come up with. No need for two Xolair sales forces Genentec and Novartis, no need for two or is it three oncology, or two rheumatology forces in house at Genentec either. Good luck and Great selling!!!!!!!!!!
 






























When is everyone on the sales side going to get it? More cuts are coming in 2011 & 2012. Bottom line. Do not think you are safe. Get your resume ready, interview and protect yourself. Each round of lay-offs will give fewer benefits/severance. Just prepare yourself for a bumpy ride.
 


















Anonymous said:
When is everyone on the sales side going to get it? More cuts are coming in 2011 & 2012. Bottom line. Do not think you are safe. Get your resume ready, interview and protect yourself. Each round of lay-offs will give fewer benefits/severance. Just prepare yourself for a bumpy ride.
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Your comment on diminishing severance is pure conjecture, and you should stop spreading it. Its the same crap that people were saying about the last layoff. People love to contemplate layoffs. Even though there was a standard severance, in writing, during the last layoff people were still gossiping about doom and gloom. If you don't have a source that you can quote or link to, you are just spreading guesswork gossip.
 












Anonymous said:
We here at Novartis told you we owned your company via Roche and now we are eating you alive! Rituxan who, Xolair just keeps the lights on for us. Say your prayers as we cannibalize your company and future Roche!
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Can we stop this please? Novartis owns a tiny percent of Roche Voting stock. THey have no input or impact whatsoever.
 
























Anonymous said:
Over 30% of the voting stock owned by Novartis is not a TINY portion.
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Of course 32% of the voting shares is inconsequential; remember, the founding family owns 51% of the voting shares, and they are contractually obligated to vote as a block. The bottomline is that neither novartis, nor any other entity has any say, leverage, influence, in the operational decision making of Roche; Novartis doesnt even have a seat on the board of directors. So, back to the OP who stated that Novartis owned Roche, therefore controls Xolair; that is just plain false. They are simply silent investors like everyone else.

FYI, not only does the 32% mean absolutely nothing, but overall Novartis is not even a dominant owner of Roche securities. Overall, the voting shares account for 20% of overall Roche securities (voting and non-voting); this means that novartis owns about 6% of outstanding Roche stock. So, indeed, novartis has as much influence on roche, as you or I.
 






Anonymous said:
Of course 32% of the voting shares is inconsequential; remember, the founding family owns 51% of the voting shares, and they are contractually obligated to vote as a block. The bottomline is that neither novartis, nor any other entity has any say, leverage, influence, in the operational decision making of Roche; Novartis doesnt even have a seat on the board of directors. So, back to the OP who stated that Novartis owned Roche, therefore controls Xolair; that is just plain false. They are simply silent investors like everyone else.

FYI, not only does the 32% mean absolutely nothing, but overall Novartis is not even a dominant owner of Roche securities. Overall, the voting shares account for 20% of overall Roche securities (voting and non-voting); this means that novartis owns about 6% of outstanding Roche stock. So, indeed, novartis has as much influence on roche, as you or I.
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You idiots said the same thing, that roche could never take over genentech. novatis can take over this dump any time they want, but the results will be the same as what roche ended up with.
 






Anonymous said:
You idiots said the same thing, that roche could never take over genentech. novatis can take over this dump any time they want, but the results will be the same as what roche ended up with.
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Lets end this silly discussion; neither Novartis, nor GSK, Nor Pfizer, Nor Lilly, nor any other entity can purchase, or control roche in any way, or exert any kind of influence PERIOD! It is simply impossible. NEXT SUBJECT!
 






Never say never Rochie. If Roche continues to have the less than stellar performance that has become the norm since the purchase of Genentech, there may be some interest in selling more of the controlling voting stock. With the Roche CFO leaving, there is obviously unrest in Basel.
Roche days of being a big, well run, profitable Pharm company are almost over. They will end up running the whole Roche empire into the ground the same way they did the US portion of Roche. If not for the former Genentech products, Roche would probably not exist today under that name.
 






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