Biosimilars

Cadila and Kalbe advancing biosimilar ambitions

Biosimilars/General | Posted 09/03/2018

Indian generics maker Cadila Healthcare (Cadila) and Indonesia-based Kalbe Farma (Kalbe) are both making advances into the biosimilars field.

Kissei/JCR’s darbepoetin alfa biosimilar shows equivalent safety and efficacy

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 02/03/2018

Japan-based collaborators Kissei Pharmaceutical (Kissei) and JCR Pharmaceuticals (JCR) announced on 17 January 2018 positive results for the phase III study of their candidate darbepoetin alfa biosimilar, JR‑131.

EC approval for trastuzumab biosimilar Herzuma

Biosimilars/News | Posted 02/03/2018

South Korean biotechnology company Celltrion announced on 14 February 2018 that it had received European Commission (EC) approval for its biosimilar trastuzumab product Herzuma (CT‑P6).

Pharmacy-mediated substitution: the global policy landscape

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 02/03/2018

There is a complex global regulatory landscape when it comes to biosimilars. In particular, there is much debate over substitution practices. Substitution describes the practice where a pharmacist decides to change a product, dispensing an equivalent (generic small molecule) or highly similar product (biosimilar) without the prescribing physician’s prior consent. This is distinct from switching, whereby a physician changes a patient’s treatment, between reference product and a biosimilar, or between biosimilars. Between March and May 2017, Pfizer conducted an internal global survey of 82 countries in which it examined biosimilar pharmacy-mediated substitution. Here, the company hoped to understand and benchmark the global policy landscape [1].

Generics versus biosimilars: pricing and usage-enhancing policies

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 23/02/2018

In Europe, pricing and demand-side measures for generic medicines are widely implemented and have undergone evaluations [1-4]. However, when it comes to biosimilars, the policies implemented by European countries are less well known and explored.

Biosimilars of denosumab

Biosimilars/General | Posted 23/02/2018

Last update: 11 December 2020

Denosumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that is an inhibitor of the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), which works by preventing the development of osteoclasts which are cells that break down bone. It is used for the treatment of osteoporosis, treatment-induced bone loss, metastases to bone and giant cell tumour of bone.

Etanercept switching study investigates non-mandatory transitioning

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 23/02/2018

A study carried out by researchers from The Netherlands investigated whether non-mandatory transitioning from originator to biosimilar etanercept improves retention rates [1].

EBE reveals Europe’s biosimilar pricing and reimbursement policies landscape

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 15/02/2018

The first biosimilar was approved in the European Union (EU) in 2006. Since then, biosimilar policies have been developed with a focus on increasing biosimilar uptake. However, the extent to which EU Member State polices differentiate between biosimilars and generic medicines has been brought into question. The European Biopharmaceutical Enterprises (EBE) has conducted a second survey on pricing and reimbursement policies for off-patent biologicals to map the biosimilar policy landscape in Europe [1].

EMA approval for biosimilar insulin glargine Semglee

Biosimilars/News | Posted 15/02/2018

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 25 January 2018 that it had recommended granting marketing authorization for the insulin glargine biosimilar Semglee.

Quality and clinical performance of biopharmaceuticals

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 15/02/2018

A review carried out by researchers from Sandoz describes the inherent nature of biopharmaceutical heterogeneity and discusses modern quality systems and regulatory frameworks used to maintain biopharmaceutical quality and clinical performance [1].

Zarxio reveals all: the US biosimilars market

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 09/02/2018

Launched in 2015, Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz) was the first biosimilar to gain US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval [1]. It competes with Neupogen (its reference product), Granix and Neulasta, for a share of the neutropenia market. This approval came almost a decade after the 2006 launch of the first biosimilar in Europe. Following this, a new study has examined Zarxio’s first years’ performance in the US short-acting (SA) filgrastim market to identify key sales and marketing trends and their drivers [2].

Quebec adds biosimilar etanercept Erelzi to public drug plan

Biosimilars/General | Posted 09/02/2018

In August 2017, Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, announced that its etanercept biosimilar, Erelzi, was now available in Canada [1], after the company received Health Canada approval for the biosimilar in April 2017. Quebec is now the most recent Canadian province to add Erelzi to its public drug plan for the treatment of multiple inflammatory diseases.

Structure-function relationship between disulfide bonds and TNF-α neutralization in etanercept

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 09/02/2018

Research carried out by Sandoz describes how a novel incorrect disulfide bridge structure present at low levels in commercial etanercept inhibits etanercept potency by reducing its ability to neutralize soluble tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) [1].

Denosumab biosimilar being developed in Australia

Biosimilars/News | Posted 09/02/2018

Australian biologicals company NeuClone disclosed on 5 January 2018 the fifth biosimilar candidate that the company is developing in its pipeline of monoclonal antibody (mAb) products. The product is a biosimilar candidate for denosumab and is currently in preclinical development.

The biosimilar landscape in Italy revealed

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 02/02/2018

In Italy, health services are run at the regional level. To date, there has been no systematic monitoring of the uptake of biosimilars at a national or regional level. As such, the biosimilar landscape in Italy has not been well understood. However, a recent paper now provides an overview of the available real-world data relating to the patterns of use and the comparative effectiveness of biosimilars and originator biological drugs in Italy [1].

EC approval for bevacizumab biosimilar Mvasi

Biosimilars/News | Posted 02/02/2018

Biotech giant Amgen announced on 18 January 2018 that it had received European Commission (EC) approval for its biosimilar bevacizumab product Mvasi (ABP 215).

FDA accepts applications for adalimumab and trastuzumab biosimilars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 02/02/2018

Samsung Bioepis and Sandoz announced on 20 December 2017 and 16 January 2018, respectively, that the regulatory submissions for their proposed trastuzumab (SB3) and adalimumab (GP2017) biosimilars had been accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).