Foundation in place for biologics.(RX RETAIL PHARMACY: Special Report)(United States. Food and Drug Administration)(United States. Food and Drug Administration's Omnitrope)

NEW YORK -- Biopharmaceuticals are the new frontier for generic drug suppliers, and Sandoz is moving rapidly toward it.

"We're in the forefront of biologics development," notes vice president of sales and marketing Frank Della Fera. "When a significant number of biotech medicines begin losing patent protection after 2010, Sandoz will be well positioned to offer generic versions of those products, which will improve patients' lives and help make health care more affordable."

The company's expertise at producing the large, complex molecules that make up such treatments has been acknowledged by the Food and Drug Administration, which last year approved …