Biosimilars/Research

Patient perspectives on biosimilars in a high uptake country

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 27/05/2022

Several surveys have shown that challenges for patient acceptance of biosimilars include patients’ concerns of quality, safety, and efficacy [1-3], however, there has been lacking more in-depth knowledge of the patient perspective and the underlying rationales for such perspective. Therefore and considering Denmark has one of the highest biosimilar uptakes [4], Varma et al. [5] investigated how Danish patients with psoriasis, arthritic diseases, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) perceived biosimilars.

Biosimilar adoption and prescribing in Japan: a physician opinion survey

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 20/05/2022

Japanese physicians regularly request information on quality, efficacy, safety and cost burden to the patient when adopting or prescribing biosimilars, demonstrates a recent survey [1]. Higher biosimilars uptake may be achievable if such information was made more accessible and digestible.

Innovent and Eli Lilly announce final results for sintilimab plus biosimilar bevacizumab injection

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 16/05/2022

Innovent and Eli Lilly have announced final clinical results for their sintilimab plus bevacizumab biosimilar injection, which has been accepted by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

Totality of evidence supporting approval of Avsola in the treatment of IBD

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 06/05/2022

Avsola (ABP 710) is a biosimilar to the infliximab reference product (Remicade), a monoclonal antibody targeting tumour necrosis factor-alfa. Avsola is approved in the US and Canada for all the same indications as Remicade, including adult and paediatric Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis [1, 2]. Infliximab is a highly efficacious treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes CD and UC. The totality of evidence (TOE) supporting the development and approval of ABP 710 was recently reviewed [3].

Amgen announces positive phase III results for ustekinumab biosimilar

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 29/04/2022

Amgen has announced positive results from a phase III trial of its ustekinumab biosimilar, ABP 654. The trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating no clinically meaningful differences with the originator product, Stelara.

Are systematic switch studies for biosimilars necessary?

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 25/03/2022

A recently published review [1] questions the need for systematic switch studies to demonstrate the interchangeability of biosimilars, suggesting the studies are becoming obsolete.

Regulating drug prices in Medicare unlikely to lead to ‘revenue targeting’

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 22/04/2022

A report from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) suggests that regulating drug prices in Medicare is unlikely to lead manufacturers to compensate by increasing revenues from the commercial market, based on analysis of similar events in the European Union (EU).

Secondary patents delay access to biosimilars in the US

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 15/04/2022

Biological drug patents covering new methods of manufacturing and formulation are major contributors to delays in biosimilar market entry in the US, finds a new study published in Nature Biotechnology [1].

Phase III trial evidence used in approval of ranibizumab biosimilar Byooviz

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 08/04/2022

Byooviz (SB11) is the first ranibizumab biosimilar approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) [1, 2].

Trastuzumab biosimilar Kanjinti remains stable in polyolefin bags and elastomeric devices

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 01/04/2022

A study of the trastuzumab biosimilar ABP 980 (Kanjinti) finds that the compound remains stable in concentrated multi-dose bags and diluted in intravenous (IV) bags and elastomeric devices, providing preparation options to suit different global pharmacy practices.