Biosimilars

Canada approves rituximab biosimilars Riximyo and Ruxience

Biosimilars/News | Posted 22/05/2020

Canada’s drug regulator, Health Canada, has approved the rituximab biosimilars Riximyo (GP2013) and Ruxience (PF-05280586) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis as well as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Reimbursement of biosimilars in the US

Biosimilars/General | Posted 22/05/2020

Barriers to market uptake of biosimilars in the US include biosimilars pricing, legal and promotional wars being waged by originator companies, and the lack of confidence in biosimilars [1, 2].

Amgen on both sides of the biosimilar arena

Biosimilars/General | Posted 22/05/2020

Amgen has both originator biologicals and also biosimilars in its portfolio, which means the US-based drugmaker can be on both sides of the fence when it comes to biosimilars.

EMA recommends approval of Sanofi’s insulin aspart biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 15/05/2020

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 30 April 2020 that it had recommended granting of marketing authorization for an insulin aspart biosimilar.

Scientific evidence in development of trastuzumab biosimilar ABP 980

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 15/05/2020

ABP 980 (Kanjinti) is a biosimilar to trastuzumab reference product (RP) (Herceptin), a monoclonal antibody directed against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). A biosimilar is highly similar to a licensed biological with no clinically meaningful differences in safety, purity and potency [1, 2]. Kanjinti is approved in the US, European Union, and as trastuzumab BS [trastuzumab biosimilar 2] in Japan for all Herceptin indications, which include treatment of HER2 positive (HER2+) metastatic breast cancer, early breast cancer (EBC), and metastatic gastric cancer [3-5]. Development and approval were based on a totality of evidence (TOE) approach, involving stepwise generation of comparative analytical (structural and functional), preclinical, and clinical (pharmacokinetics [PK], pharmacodynamics [PD], efficacy, safety and immunogenicity) evidence [6].

Biosimilar education gaps in oncology

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 15/05/2020

A survey administered by the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP) identifies key educational needs on biosimilars amongst its practitioners, including how to compare a biosimilar to an originator and how to manage switching [1].

US FDA clears Biocon manufacturing sites in Malaysia and India

Biosimilars/General | Posted 15/05/2020

There has been successful closure of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections at Biocon Biologics sites in Malaysia and India. Three manufacturing sites were issued FDA establishment inspection reports (EIRs) in April 2020. The site in Malaysia is set to produce insulin glargine biosimilar, and two sites in Bangalore, India are set to manufacture trastuzumab and pegfilgrastim oncology biosimilars.

Pegfilgrastim biosimilar Fulphila launched in Canada

Biosimilars/News | Posted 08/05/2020

US-based drugmaker Mylan and partner, India-based biologicals specialist Biocon, announced on 28 April 2020 the launch of their pegfilgrastim biosimilar, Fulphila, in Canada. This is the second biosimilar from the pair to be launched in the country.

How to make biological drugs more affordable

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 08/05/2020

Biological drugs remain unaffordable for many in the US due to strategies used by pharmaceutical companies and negative messaging about biosimilars, explains a recent commentary by Dr Joel Lexchin, School of Health Policy and Management at York University, Canada [1].

Online education for diabetes specialists on biosimilar insulins

Biosimilars/General | Posted 08/05/2020

An online educational course has been published by Medscape in collaboration with the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialist.

Celltrion files application with EMA for adalimumab biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 08/05/2020

Celltrion has submitted an application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for its adalimumab biosimilar, currently known as CT-P17.

Non-innovator biologicals in India: regulatory context and areas for improvement

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 04/05/2020

There are major regulatory lapses in the manufacturing of similar biologics in India. The use of scientific audits could strengthen the regulatory system and improve the provision of high quality biosimilars in the country, according to a recent opinion piece [1] by Dr GR Soni, which was published in GaBI Journal.

Biocon/Mylan launch pegfilgrastim biosimilar Fulphila in Australia

Biosimilars/News | Posted 04/05/2020

US-based drugmaker Mylan and partner India-based biologicals specialist Biocon have announced the launch of their pegfilgrastim biosimilar, Fulphila, in Australia. The drug can be used to treat neutropenia (a lack of white blood cells) in cancer patients.

New information on biosimilars from Australia and the US

Biosimilars/General | Posted 04/05/2020

The Generic Biosimilar Medicines Association and the Biologics Prescriber Collaborative have released new information on biosimilars, aimed at physicians and the public, respectively.

Clinical trials for adalimumab biosimilar SB5

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 04/05/2020

The clinical trials used to support the approval of Samsung Bioepis/Merck’s adalimumab biosimilar SB5 (Imraldi/Hadlima), were critically reviewed by authors from Argentina and the UK, with a special focus on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [1].

Merck launches trastuzumab biosimilar in the US

Biosimilars/News | Posted 24/04/2020

US pharma giant Merck (known as MSD outside the US and Canada) and Korea-based Samsung Bioepis (Samsung and Biogen’s joint venture) announced in on 15 April 2020 that they had launched their trastuzumab biosimilar, Ontruzant, in the US.

Assessment of biosimilarity for monoclonal antibodies

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 24/04/2020

How therapeutic monoclonal antibody biosimilars are assessed for biosimilarity, was discussed by authors from the National Institute of Health Sciences and the Yokohama University of Pharmacy in Japan. Their review covers the basic concept of biosimilar development as well as pharmacokinetic data obtained via non-clinical and clinical studies of biosimilar therapeutic antibodies [1].