Biosimilars/General

GPhA launches Biosimilars Council

Biosimilars/General | Posted 29/05/2015

As part of ongoing efforts to educate and expand access to biosimilars, industry group, the US Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA), has launched its Biosimilars Council, a division of GPhA.

Biosimilars Forum launched

Biosimilars/General | Posted 08/05/2015

A group of biosimilars developers in the US announced on 5 May 2015 the launch of a joint initiative to promote biosimilars in the form of the Biosimilars Forum.

Australian guide to biosimilars

Biosimilars/General | Posted 04/05/2015

Australia’s Generic Medicines Industry Association (GMiA) has launched a Guide to Biosimilars. The guide is designed to provide a concise, ‘user-friendly’ reference on the subject for patients, clinicians, pharmacists, politicians and policymakers.

WHO receives positive feedback on BQ for biologicals

Biosimilars/General | Posted 27/04/2015

According to the World Health Organization’s executive summary of its 59th Consultation on International Nonproprietary Names (INNs) for Pharmaceutical Substances, almost half of comments on its proposed biological qualifier (BQ) for naming biologicals were positive.

Arguments for same INN for biosimilars presented at WHO meeting

Biosimilars/General | Posted 17/04/2015

The World Health Organization recently held its 60th Consultation on International Nonproprietary Names (INN) for Pharmaceutical Substances. At the meeting the issue of naming of biologicals, including biosimilars was once again discussed.

Dutch medicines agency says biosimilars ‘have no relevant differences’ to originators

Biosimilars/General | Posted 10/04/2015

The Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB) has updated its position on biosimilars, stating that ‘biosimilars have been proven to have no relevant differences compared to an innovator biological medicinal product as far as quality, safety and efficacy are concerned’.

Rheumatologists want to evaluate long-term safety of biosimilars

Biosimilars/General | Posted 27/03/2015

One of the biggest challenges for biosimilar companies is to convince physicians to use biosimilars instead of their well-known biological counterparts. One of the issues that physicians see as a concern is the long-term safety of biosimilars, a concern that is thought could slow down the adoption of biosimilars. This issue has even prompted certain organizations to embark on programmes that seek to provide definitive evidence on the issue.

Huge discount on biosimilar infliximab in Norway

Biosimilars/General | Posted 13/03/2015

Norway’s price regulator has been offered a discount of 72% for biosimilar infliximab in the country’s latest tender for drugs.

Norwegian study hopes to increase biosimilars uptake in Europe

Biosimilars/General | Posted 06/12/2013

Despite the fact that many countries within Europe are tightening its health budget, the uptake of lower-cost biosimilars is still relatively low in Europe.

EuropaBio calls for distinguishable names for biosimilars despite potential of big savings

Biosimilars/General | Posted 28/11/2014

On 6 November 2014, the European Association for Bioindustries (EuropaBio) published a new guide and a new position paper on biosimilars in Europe. EuropaBio expects these two documents to contribute to the policy debate on key issues regarding biosimilars among European and national regulators, policymakers, physicians, other healthcare providers, and patients.