Biosimilars/General

Amgen explains the steps of manufacturing a biosimilar

Biosimilars/General | Posted 29/05/2020

US-based biotech giant Amgen explains on its websites the steps involved in manufacturing a biosimilar.

EU approves Henlius copy biologicals facility in China

Biosimilars/General | Posted 29/05/2020

Following European Union (EU) inspections of Shanghai Henlius Biotech, Inc’s Xuhui facility in China, it is likely that the copy biologicals produced at the site will soon be available internationally.

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.

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.

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.

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.

FDA releases new information on interchangeable biologicals

Biosimilars/General | Posted 24/04/2020

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released new information on its website, clarifying the difference between biosimilars and interchangeable biologicals and says it will make more treatment options available to more people.

Biosimilars highlights: 2019

Biosimilars/General | Posted 17/04/2020

There were many biosimilars approved in 2019, as well as new clinical trials, research into issues surrounding biosimilar use, and significant regulatory changes [1], as summarized below.

British Columbia releases latest data on biosimilar switches

Biosimilars/General | Posted 17/04/2020

The latest data on biosimilar switching in British Columbia, Canada shows that 28% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have switched to a biosimilar version of their medication.

Biocure developing five candidate biosimilars

Biosimilars/General | Posted 10/04/2020

South Korea’s pharmaceutical industry has fast been expanding as a world player. According to the Korea Health Industry Development Institute, the Korean pharmaceutical industry in 2018 represented 1.8% of the world market, i.e. the 13th largest in the world.

Biosimilars and the safe harbor provision

Biosimilars/General | Posted 10/04/2020

In the US, the safe harbor provision exempts drug development and approval from patent infringement provisions, and courts have interpreted the safe harbor to apply broadly to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated and approved products, including biologicals. However, courts have continued to struggle with the application of the safe harbor to different types of FDA submissions as the regulatory process has become more complex – and largely have continued to expand its scope.

Access to biosimilars in China, the EU and the US

Biosimilars/General | Posted 03/04/2020

Access to more affordable treatments is the main driver for the approval of biosimilars. But how does this accessibility vary between Europe, the US and China?

The Patients Association publishes new advice on switching to biosimilars

Biosimilars/General | Posted 03/04/2020

Patient advocacy group in the UK, The Patients Association, has published new information and an animated video about switching to biosimilars.

US oncologist says Medicare should not practice medicine

Biosimilars/General | Posted 27/03/2020

Clinical oncologist, Dr Debra Patt, who serves on the US Oncology Research Breast Cancer Committee and chairs the breast cancer subsection of the pathways task force for The US Oncology Network, expresses her opinion on a new policy introduced by Medicare, which she believes is ‘having a negative impact on a patient’s outcome’.

FDA and FTC collaborate to deter anti-competitive behaviour for biologicals

Biosimilars/General | Posted 20/03/2020

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on 3 February 2020 that they would enhance their collaboration when it comes to anti-competitive behaviour in the biologicals’ marketplace.

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.

Non-originator biologicals approved in Russia

Biosimilars/General | Posted 10/01/2020

Last update: 10 January 2020

In Russia, the regulatory body for the approval of medicines is Russia’s Ministry of Health (Министерство здравоохранения Российской Федерации; Rosminzdrav, Minzdrav).

FDA publishes historic drug approvals and searchable Purple Book

Biosimilars/General | Posted 13/03/2020

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a dataset of drug approvals dating back to 1985 and an online, searchable version of the Purple Book of licensed biologicals.