Move over Revlimid, there’s a new kid on the market.
Teva Pharmaceuticals is launching the first generic version of Bristol Myer Squibb’s cancer star, Revlimid. Teva’s copycat, lenalidomide, will be used to treat certain blood cancers like multiple myeloma, certain myelodysplastic syndromes and mantle cell lymphoma in adults.
“The launch of our first generic version of Revlimid in the U.S. provides patients with another important treatment option for these extremely challenging conditions, demonstrating Teva’s commitment to making complex generic drugs available to the patients who need them,” said Christine Baeder, chief operating officer of U.S. generics at Teva.
The therapy will be released in 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, 25mg strength capsules in the U.S. Teva, the U.S.-based branch of the Israeli Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, has not yet released information about the price of the drug.
Teva has almost 550 generic medicines on the market, by far the most of any pharma company. 73% of essential oncology treatments come from Teva’s portfolio of generic drugs, said Baeder, making the company a major player in the generics market.
BMS’ Revlimid has been a major moneymaker since its U.S. FDA approval in 2006. The drug is predicted to bring in between $9.5 billion and $10 billion in 2022, according to BMS, and has been a mainstay on lists of top-selling drugs for the past few years.
Despite the upcoming appearance of other generic multiple myeloma treatments that will soon enter the market from companies like Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories and Natco Pharma, Revlimid will likely keep its edge for the time being, but BMS expects sales to decline steadily from 2023 onwards according to the company. BMS hopes to make up the difference with the launch of new therapies, including anemia drug Reblozyl.
