Biosimilars

Tanvex BioPharma’s filgrastim biosimilar comes under fire

Biosimilars/News | Posted 08/11/2019

Taiwan-based biosimilars developer Tanvex BioPharma (Tanvex) is having a rough time lately. In July 2019, Amgen filed an infringement lawsuit against the company regarding its filgrastim biosimilar, TX01. Then in September 2019, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected Tanvex’s application for approval of TX01.

Biosimilars regulation in Canada: state of play

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 08/11/2019

A paper recently published in GaBI Journal provides an update on the regulation and reimbursement of biosimilars in Canada, including changes to the regulation on switching and processes for private plan reimbursement [1].

Clinical data requirements for biosimilars in the EU: efficacy comparability

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 08/11/2019

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) uses a totality of evidence approach in its regulatory review process for biosimilar approval. As part of this, the biosimilar should demonstrate that it does not have clinically meaningful differences from the originator biological, based on comparative clinical studies.

Bevacizumab ‘similar biologic’ Versavo launched in India

Biosimilars/News | Posted 08/11/2019

India-based generics manufacturer Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (Dr Reddy’s) announced on 19 August 2019 that it had launched its bevacizumab ‘similar biologic’, Versavo (DRZ_BZ) in India.

Clinical data requirements for biosimilars in the EU: PK and PD comparability

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 25/10/2019

In their article [1], authors from the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), discussed the totality of evidence approach for biosimilars in the European Union (EU) using case studies to illustrate biosimilars for which differences were observed in different parts of the comparability exercise and on the justification for why these differences did not preclude regulatory approval.

EMA approval for Pegfilgrastim Mundipharma

Biosimilars/News | Posted 25/10/2019

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 18 October 2019 that it had recommended granting of a marketing authorization for the pegfilgrastim biosimilar Pegfilgrastim Mundipharma.

Positive real-world data for etanercept biosimilar Benepali

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 25/10/2019

Korea-based Samsung Bioepis (Samsung and Biogen’s joint venture) announced on 9 October 2019 that it had presented positive real-world data from its etanercept biosimilar Benepali at the 2019 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress [1].

Clinical data requirements for biosimilars in the EU: analytical comparability

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 18/10/2019

For biosimilars, the regulatory review process is based on the totality of evidence generated in support of biosimilarity.

Russian approval for non-originator dornase alfa

Biosimilars/News | Posted 18/10/2019

Russian biotechnology company Generium and Swiss-based cell-line producer Selexis announced on 17 September 2019 that the Russian Ministry of Health had approved their dornase alfa non-originator biological drug, Tigerase. The drug is a non-originator biological of Roche’s Pulmozyme (dornase alfa).

Celltrion and Juno make biosimilars deal in Australia and Herzuma launches in Iraq

Biosimilars/General | Posted 18/10/2019

South Korean biotechnology company Celltrion Healthcare (Celltrion) has entered into a partnership with Juno Pharmaceuticals (Juno) to market the trastuzumab biosimilar Herzuma and rituximab biosimilar Truxima in Australia. The company also launched Herzuma in Iraq.

Trial of bevacizumab copy biological with novel antibody targeting PD-1

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 18/10/2019

China-based Shanghai Henlius Biotech (Henlius) is recruiting patients for a study that will investigate a proposed bevacizumab copy biological in combination with a novel antibody targeting PD-1.

Clinical data requirements for biosimilars in the EU

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 11/10/2019

In their article [1], authors from the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) discussed the clinical data requirements for biosimilars in the European Union (EU).

FDA approves Pfenex’s follow-on teriparatide product

Biosimilars/News | Posted 11/10/2019

US-based biotech firm Pfenex announced on 7 October 2019 that it had received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its follow-on teriparatide product (PF708).

Biocon/Mylan launch first insulin glargine biosimilar in Australia

Biosimilars/News | Posted 11/10/2019

India-based biologicals specialist Biocon and US-based partner Mylan announced on 3 October 2019 the launch of the first insulin glargine biosimilar in Australia available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

FDA releases new patient guidance on biosimilars

Biosimilars/General | Posted 11/10/2019

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released new patient materials on biosimilars, which explain that biosimilars are as safe and effective as their reference biological and answer a number of commonly asked questions.

Adalimumab copy biological shown to be safe and effective

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 11/10/2019

Chinese biopharmaceutical firm Innovent Biologics’ adalimumab copy biological has shown comparable safety and efficacy to the originator drug, Humira (adalimumab), in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Biosimilars applications reviewed in the EU

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 04/10/2019

The European Union (EU) was the first to establish a legal framework for biosimilars back in 2003 [1]. Since the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved its first biosimilars in 2006, the agency has issued new guidelines and updated its existing guidelines based on new evidence and rapid advances in analytical sciences [2].