Synthetic heparin expected to launch early 2009
Australia-based Alchemia, a biotechnology company specializing in synthesis and manipulation of carbohydrates, announced on its Web site that it is on target to launch its antithrombotic drug, generic fondaparinux. Generic fondaparinux targets the multi-billion dollar heparin drug market. The company claims fondaparinux has a superior safety and efficacy profile to the market-leading drug Lovenox. Meanwhile, the brand-name fondaparinux drug Arixtra, made by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) continues to gain market share.