Biosimilars

EMA approval for rituximab biosimilar Ruxience

Biosimilars/News | Posted 07/02/2020

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 31 January 2020 that it had recommended granting marketing authorization for the rituximab biosimilar Ruxience.

Failures when switching patients to biosimilar etanercept

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 07/02/2020

A ‘real-world’ study on switching patients from the originator etanercept, Enbrel, to the biosimilar Benepali (SB4) investigated the reasons why some patients switched back to the originator [1].

Rituximab biosimilar ABP 798 submitted to FDA

Biosimilars/News | Posted 07/02/2020

US-based biotech giant Amgen and its partner Allergan announced on 19 December 2019 that their rituximab biosimilar (ABP 798) had been successfully submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review.

Law and ethics of switching to biosimilars in Canada

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 31/01/2020

With healthcare budgets in mind, governments and financial institutions across the globe are planning or implementing non-medical or ‘forced’ switches by cutting drug coverage for reference biologicals and funding only less expensive biosimilars. This is a subject fraught with issues related to both the law and the ethics of switching. Authors Blake Murdoch and Timothy Caulfield of the Health Law Institute, Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, try to address how such issues might affect Canada [1].

Biosimilars applications under review by EMA – January 2020

Biosimilars/General | Posted 31/01/2020

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is the body responsible for approval of biosimilars within the European Union (EU). A legal framework for approving biosimilars was established in 2003. Approval of biosimilars is based on an abbreviated registration process, which allows biosimilars manufacturers to provide a reduced package of information compared to originator drugs, provided they can prove ‘similarity’ to the originator or reference drug.

Mabpharm files infliximab copy biological application in China

Biosimilars/News | Posted 31/01/2020

US-based biopharmaceutical company Sorrento Therapeutics (Sorrento) announced on 6 January 2020 that its partner, China-based Mabpharm, had filed a marketing application with China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), formerly the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) for its infliximab copy biological (CMAB008).

Adalimumab biosimilars in Europe: a review

Biosimilars/General | Posted 31/01/2020

A recent position statement from the Belgian inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research group (BIRD) reviews the five biosimilars of adalimumab available in the European Union (EU) [1]. Adalimumab, which has been marketed under the brand name Humira, is a popular antibody treatment for a number of inflammatory conditions.

China approves bevacizumab copy biological Ankeda

Biosimilars/News | Posted 31/01/2020

China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), formerly the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), announced on 9 December 2019 that it had approved Ankeda, a bevacizumab copy biological.

Swiss position statement on the use of biosimilars in IBD

Biosimilars/General | Posted 24/01/2020

Experts from the Swiss Society of Gastroenterology have provided a position statement on the use of biosimilars in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The position paper summarizes key regulatory and clinical issues around biosimilars to help improve clinician and patient awareness.

Teriparatide biosimilar Terossa approved in South Korea

Biosimilars/News | Posted 24/01/2020

South Korea-based Daewon Pharmaceutical has obtained regulatory approval to begin marketing and selling its teriparatide biosimilar in Korea.