Mylan N.V. and Biocon Ltd. on Monday announced that the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued a positive opinion recommending approval of SemgleeTM, insulin glargine, a long-acting insulin analog used in thetreatment of diabetes mellitus in adults, adolescents and children aged 2 years and above.

The CHMP positive opinion will be considered by the European Commission. The European Commission decision on the approval is expected in April. This is the first biosimilar from Mylan and Biocon's joint portfolio recommended for approval in the European Union (EU).

Mylan President Rajiv Malik said approximately 60 million people living with diabetes in the European Region and prevalence on the rise. ''We have an important role to play to help increase access to high-quality, more affordable treatment options for patients. Mylan is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of complex products, and we are proud of our regulatory, clinical and scientific capabilitiesthat have allowed us to reach this important milestone.''

Arun Chandavarkar, CEO and Joint Managing Director, Biocon said, CHMP's decision to recommend approval of Biocon and Mylan's biosimilar insulin glargine brings us a step closer to offer high quality, affordable options for people with diabetes in the EU. ''This is an outcome of our commitment to be a credible, global insulins player on the back of significant investments together with our partner Mylan in global scale manufacturing and R&D after having previously obtained approvals for our insulin glargine in Japan and key emerging markets.''

Data submitted as part of the Marketing Authorisation Application included analytical similarity data, metabolic assays, euglycemic clamp data in type 1 diabetes patients for demonstration of similar PD and PK response, as well as robust clinical endpoint studies in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes comparing Semglee with the reference product, insulin glargine to demonstrate similar safety, efficacy and immunogenicity upto 52 weeks, a company release said here.