Biosimilars

FDA approves first interchangeable aflibercept biosimilars to treat macular degeneration

Biosimilars/News | Posted 19/06/2024

On 20 May 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Biocon Biologic’s Yesafili (aflibercept-jbvf) and Samsung Bioepis and Biogen's Opuviz (aflibercept-yszy) as the first interchangeable biosimilars to Regeneron and Bayer's Eylea (aflibercept). The Samsung Bioepis product has also been launched in South Korea under brand name, Afilivu.

Canada's path to biosimilar adoption and healthcare accessibility: insights from British Columbia

Biosimilars/General | Posted 19/06/2024

Canada’s British Columbia transitioned to biosimilars in November 2019, achieving significant cost savings reinvested in BC PharmaCare. This initiative has improved drug coverage, expanding access to various medications and medical devices.

FDA approves ustekinumab, trastuzumab, and tocilizumab biosimilars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 19/06/2024

In April 2024, the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) approved Alvotech and Teva’s Selarsdi (ustekinumab-aekn), a biosimilar to Stelara and Shanghai Henlius Biotech’s Herceptin biosimilar, Hercessi (trastuzumab-strf). This comes after the March 2024 news of the approval of Fresenius Kabi’s Tyenne (tocilizumab-aazg), the first tocilizumab biosimilar with an intravenous and subcutaneous formulation.

Update of biosimilars approved by Health Canada in 2023

Biosimilars/News | Posted 12/06/2024

Since November 2023, Canada’s drug regulator, Health Canada, has approved no fewer than five biosimilars for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), cancer, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and several serious retinal diseases, such as wet age-related macular degeneration.

EMA recommends approval of biosimilar tocilizumab Tofidence and ustekinumab Wezenla

Biosimilars/News | Posted 05/06/2024

On 25 April 2024, the European Medicine Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted positive opinions for two biosimilar medicines: Tofidence (tocilizumab) and Wezenla (ustekinumab), recommending the granting of marketing authorization. This comes following news that Wezlana reached the market in Canada in early March 2024.

Disruption in the US adalimumab market

Biosimilars/General | Posted 05/06/2024

In April 2024, Evernorth Health Services in the US announced that a biosimilar of AbbVie’s Humira ( adalimumab) will be available for US$0 out of pocket for eligible patients of its specialty pharmacy, Accredo. This announcement follows the news that prescriptions for adalimumab biosimilars have spiked to 36% after leading pharmacy benefit manager CVS Caremark removed the branded reference product from its major national commercial formularies in January 2024.

Canada approves three more biosimilars in 2022

Biosimilars/News | Posted 28/05/2024

Since the last update in June 2022, Health Canada has approved three more biosimilars (Myxredlin, Rymti, Elonox) in 2022 [1].

EMA recommends approval of bevacizumab Lytenava

Biosimilars/News | Posted 22/05/2024

On 21 March 2024, the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorization (MA) for Outlook Therapeutics’ Lytenava (ONS-5010, bevacizumab gamma), intended for treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Three more biosimilar approvals in Canada in 2023

Biosimilars/News | Posted 14/05/2024

In Canada, three biosimilars were approved in late 2023. These are, Amgen’s Wezlana (ustekinumab), JAMP/Alvotech’s Jamteki (ustekinumab), and Formycon/Polpharma Biologics/Bioeq’s Ranopto (ranibizumab).

EMA recommends approval of first omalizumab biosimilar Omlyclo

Biosimilars/News | Posted 07/05/2024

On 21 March 2024, the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of marketing authorization for Omlyclo (omalizumab), Celltrion's biosimilar of the reference product Xolair.

Unveiling key clinical findings for denosumab biosimilar candidates

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 07/05/2024

In April 2024, Henlius Biotech and Organon announced that the phase III comparative clinical trial for their investigational denosumab biosimilar (HLX14) met the primary endpoints. This follows the news released earlier in the year, that Alvotech and Polpharma achieved positive topline results from their pharmacokinetic (PK) studies for their denosumab biosimilar candidate (AVT03). The originator product is Amgen’s Prolia/Xgeva.

China approves first denosumab copy biological Maiweijian

Biosimilars/News | Posted 16/04/2024

On 3 April 2024, China-based biopharmaceutical company Mabwell announced that their Maiweijian (denosumab) injection, developed by its wholly-owned subsidiary T-mab, obtained the marketing approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). This product is the first denosumab copy biologicalto receive marketing approval in China.

Addressing the persistent gap in Medicare access to Humira biosimilars

Biosimilars/General | Posted 16/04/2024

In an article by Dr Joshua Cohen, he discusses the challenges facing the adoption of biosimilars in the US, particularly focusing on Medicare beneficiaries' access to these lower-cost alternatives to brand-name biologicals like Humira.

Topline results for Polpharma Biologics’ vedolizumab biosimilar candidate

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 16/04/2024

In February 2024, Polpharma Biologics (Polpharma) unveiled topline results demonstrating the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) comparability of PB016, their biosimilar candidate for vedolizumab, with its reference drug, Entyvio, by Takeda Pharmaceutical.

EMA recommends approval of first denosumab biosimilar Jubbonti and Wyost

Biosimilars/News | Posted 09/04/2024

On 21 March 2024, the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for Sandoz’s medicinal products, Jubbonti and Wyost (denosumab), which are biosimilars of Amgen’s reference products Prolia and Xgeva, respectively.

First denosumab biosimilars approved in Canada and the US

Biosimilars/News | Posted 03/04/2024

The first and only denosumab biosimilars for osteoporosis and increasing bone mass were approved in Canada and the US in February and March 2024.

Comparing biosimilar adoption: Medicare Advantage versus traditional Medicare

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 03/04/2024

Biosimilar products, vital for widening access to essential treatments and reducing healthcare costs, face varied uptake influenced by factors like pricing and healthcare settings. Kozlowski et al.'s study compares adoption rates in Medicare Advantage (MA) and Traditional Medicare (TM), revealing significant differences [1].

Questioning the need for ethnic sensitivity assessments for biosimilar monoclonal antibodies

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 27/03/2024

A GaBIJ perspective article entitled ‘Ethnic sensitivity assessments in biosimilar monoclonal antibodies clinical development programmes: necessary or not?’, was published by a group of authors from Biocon Biologics in August 2023 [1].

Dr Reddy's launches bevacizumab biosimilar Versavo in the UK

Biosimilars/News | Posted 27/03/2024

On 19 March 2024, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories announced that it would be launching Versavo, a bevacizumab biosimilar, in the UK.

EMA recommends approval of ustekinumab biosimilar Pyzchiva

Biosimilars/News | Posted 22/03/2024

On 22 February 2024, the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorization for the medicinal product Pyzchiva (ustekinumab), a biosimilar of reference product Stelara.