Policies & Legislation

FDA voices concerns around drug patents and competition

Home/Policies & Legislation | Posted 08/10/2021

On 10 September 2021, acting US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Janet Woodcock, sent a letter to the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), outlining the agency’s concerns around drug patents and competition.

USA BIOSIM Act introduction

Home/Policies & Legislation | Posted 17/09/2021

The Bolstering Innovative Option to Save Immediately on Medicines Act (BIOSIM Act) was introduced in the US on 22 April 2021. This hopes to encourage greater uptake and use of biosimilar therapies by increasing biosimilar reimbursement for healthcare providers in Medicare Part B [1]. 

South Korea includes data exclusivity period for paediatric drugs approved abroad

Home/Policies & Legislation | Posted 10/09/2021

As of 5 May 2021, South Korea has updated the re-examination periods for post-marketing surveillance (PMS) of approved drugs. This now includes a four-year re-examination period for PMS that can now be granted for paediatric drugs approved based on both ‘domestic’ and ‘foreign’ clinical trials. 

MERCOSUR: new tariff for biological and biosimilar without Latin equity

Home/Policies & Legislation | Posted 03/09/2021

Within the pharmaceutical industry, the biosimilars business is growing and consolidating both internationally and locally. It is within this framework that MERCOSUR announced the new tariff to be implemented.

New trade agreement between Mexico, the US and Canada

Home/Policies & Legislation | Posted 27/08/2021

The new trade agreement between Mexico, the US and Canada, now called the T-MEC entered into force on 1 July 2020. 

Use of generic drugs is promoted in Peru

Home/Policies & Legislation | Posted 23/07/2021

To promote the use of generic medicines in Peru, on 31 October 2019, the Executive Branch published regulations through Supreme Decree No. 026-2019-SA, which established mechanisms to ensure access to lower-cost medicines. The decree recognizes the need to adopt measures that favour the population’s access to essential medicines, biological products, and medical devices.

A new dawn for China’s patent law

Home/Policies & Legislation | Posted 16/07/2021

China has made changes to its patent law which were enacted on 1 June 2021. The revisions mean China’s new patent law system resembles the US Hatch-Waxman approach and include a patent linkage system and patent term extensions.

Affordable Care Act to stand in USA

Home/Policies & Legislation | Posted 09/07/2021

On 17 June 2021, the US Supreme Court ruled to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Obamacare. This ensures the current pathway for biosimilars to reach the US market will be maintained which will provide access to cheaper versions of expensive biological therapies.

Proposals for the commercialisation of generics move forward in Chile

Home/Policies & Legislation | Posted 02/07/2021

The project known as the Medicines Law 2, led by a Joint Commission, seeks to settle discrepancies between senators and deputies regarding the sale of bioequivalent and generic medicines in Chile. The project, which is in its third stage, amends the Health Code to regulate generic drugs in order to prevent the vertical integration of pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies.  In this way, it seeks to solve some pending issues left by the current drug legislation.

President Biden signs ‘Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act’

Home/Policies & Legislation | Posted 04/06/2021

US President Joe Biden has signed the Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act of 2021, authorizing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to educate patients and healthcare providers about the benefits of biosimilars. This follows the reintroduction of the Bolstering Innovative Option to Save Immediately on Medicines Act  (BIOSIM Act), which will increase reimbursement for biosimilar drugs.