Biosimilars/News

Alvogen opening biosimilars plant in Iceland

Biosimilars/News | Posted 17/06/2016

Iceland-based biopharmaceutical company Alvotech, a sister company of US generics company Alvogen, is set to open its state-of-the-art 11,800 square meter development and manufacturing facility for biosimilars in June 2016.

Rituximab biosimilar from Sandoz accepted for review by EMA

Biosimilars/News | Posted 10/06/2016

Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, announced on 24 May 2016 that its regulatory submission for its proposed rituximab biosimilar (GP2013) had been accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Samsung Bioepis infliximab biosimilar accepted for review by FDA

Biosimilars/News | Posted 03/06/2016

Samsung Bioepis (a Biogen and Samsung joint venture) and Merck announced on 24 May 2016 that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had accepted for review a Biologics License Application (BLA) submitted by Samsung Bioepis for the companies’ infliximab biosimilar candidate, SB2.

Samsung Bioepis to launch infliximab biosimilar in South Korea

Biosimilars/News | Posted 20/05/2016

Samsung Bioepis has completed the regulatory process to enable the launch of its second biosimilar Renflexis (infliximab) in South Korea.

Samsung Bioepis starts phase III trial for bevacizumab biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 29/04/2016

South Korean electronics giant Samsung and biotechnology company Biogen Idec’s joint venture Samsung Bioepis has started a phase III clinical trial for a biosimilar version of Roche’s cancer blockbuster Avastin (bevacizumab).

New administration route for epoetin alfa biosimilar Binocrit

Biosimilars/News | Posted 22/04/2016

Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, announced on 8 April 2016 that the European Commission (EC) has approved a type II variation for the addition of a subcutaneous (SC) route of administration for its epoetin alfa biosimilar Binocrit’s nephrology (kidney function) indication.

Korean approval for infliximab biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 11/12/2015

Samsung Bioepis and partner Merck announced on 4 December 2015 that Samsung Bioepis had received approval for its infliximab biosimilar Renflexis from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS, formerly the Korea Food and Drug Administration).

EMA recommends approval of etanercept biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 27/11/2015

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 19 November 2015 that it had recommended granting of marketing authorization for a biosimilar etanercept product (SB4).

Biosimilar etanercept approved in South Korea

Biosimilars/News | Posted 11/09/2015

US pharma giant Merck and South Korean biosimilars maker Samsung Bioepis announced on 8 September 2015 the approval of their biosimilar etanercept product Brenzys by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in Korea.

Samsung adds 48-week extension to SB4 biosimilar study

Biosimilars/News | Posted 27/04/2015

Samsung Bioepis has added a 48-week extension to the phase III study of its candidate etanercept biosimilar SB4 in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Merck outlines biosimilars programme

Biosimilars/News | Posted 17/04/2015

During the 35th Annual Health Care Conference held on 2−4 March 2015 in Boston, USA, US pharma giant Merck outlined its biosimilars programme.

Samsung Bioepis submits second biosimilar to EMA

Biosimilars/News | Posted 03/04/2015

South Korean electronics giant Samsung and biotechnology company Biogen Idec’s joint venture Samsung Bioepis announced on 13 March 2015 that its infliximab biosimilar candidate, SB2, had been accepted for review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Biosimilar etanercept submitted for approval in EU

Biosimilars/News | Posted 23/01/2015

South Korean electronics giant Samsung and biotechnology company Biogen Idec’s joint venture Samsung Bioepis announced on 21 January 2015 that its etanercept biosimilar candidate, SB4, had been accepted for review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Biogen and Samsung make deal for marketing anti-TNF biosimilars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 17/01/2014

US biotechnology company Biogen Idec (Biogen) and Korean electronics giant Samsung announced on 17 December 2013 that Biogen has exercised its right to enter into an agreement to commercialize anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) biosimilar product candidates in Europe.

Trials to start for biosimilar infliximab and etanercept

Biosimilars/News | Posted 14/06/2013

Pfizer is to start a phase I study for its biosimilar infliximab candidate (PF-06438179) and Samsung Bioepis has initiated a phase III clinical trial for its biosimilar etanercept (SB4), according to entries on the US and EU clinical trials websites.

BioOutsource launches ready-to-use biosimilarity assays

Biosimilars/News | Posted 15/04/2016

Sartorius Stedim BioOutsource (BioOutsource), a subsidiary of Sartorius Stedim Biotech, has launched a range of ready-to-use assays for testing biosimilarity. The assays are available for biosimilars of Hoffmann–La Roche/Chugai’s rheumatoid arthritis treatment Actemra (tocilizumab), Centocor’s psoriasis treatment Stelara (ustekinumab) and Novartis/Genentech’s age-related macular degeneration drug Lucentis (ranibizumab).

FDA approves infliximab biosimilar Inflectra

Biosimilars/News | Posted 08/04/2016

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on 5 April 2016 that it had approved the country’s second biosimilar Inflectra (infliximab).

Biocon receives Japanese approval for insulin glargine biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 01/04/2016

India-based biologicals specialist Biocon announced on 28 March 2016 that it had received approval from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for its insulin glargine biosimilar.

Epirus starts phase III trial for infliximab biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 11/03/2016

US-based biologicals company Epirus Biopharmaceuticals (Epirus) announced on 9 February 2016 that it had started a phase III trial for its infliximab biosimilar (BOW015).

Trastuzumab non-originator biological approved in Russia

Biosimilars/News | Posted 26/02/2016

Russian biotechnology company Biocad announced on 20 January 2016 that the Russian Ministry of Health had approved the company’s trastuzumab non-originator biological, BCD-022. The drug is a non-originator biological of Roche’s breast cancer blockbuster Herceptin (trastuzumab).

FDA advisers recommend approval of Celltrion’s infliximab biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 19/02/2016

US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) advisers have voted to recommend the approval of Celltrion’s biosimilar version of Johnson & Johnson and Merck’s arthritis treatment Remicade (infliximab).

EMA accepts application for pegfilgrastim biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 19/02/2016

Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, announced on 11 February 2016 that its regulatory submission for its proposed pegfilgrastim biosimilar (LA-EP2006) had been accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Kyowa to market Sandoz’s rituximab biosimilar in Japan

Biosimilars/News | Posted 12/02/2016

Biotech firm Kyowa Hakko Kirin (Kyowa) announced on 25 January 2016 that it had made a deal with Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, for exclusive marketing rights to Sandoz’s biosimilar rituximab in Japan.

Australian approval for infertility biosimilar Bemfola

Biosimilars/News | Posted 05/02/2016

Switzerland-based Finox Biotech (Finox) announced on 30 November 2015 that it had gained approval from Australia’s drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), for follitropin alfa biosimilar Bemfola.

Filgrastim follow-on biological approved in Brazil

Biosimilars/News | Posted 29/01/2016

Brazil’s medicines agency, the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, ANVISA), announced on 20 October 2015 that it had approved the follow-on biological medicine Fiprima (filgrastim).

Bevacizumab non-originator biological approved in Russia

Biosimilars/News | Posted 22/01/2016

Russian biotechnology company Biocad announced on 30 November 2015 that the Russian Ministry of Health had approved the company’s bevacizumab non-originator biological drug, BCD-021. The drug is a non-originator biological of Roche’s cancer blockbuster Avastin (bevacizumab).

EMA accepts application for etanercept biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 15/01/2016

Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, announced on 8 December 2015 that the regulatory submission for its proposed etanercept biosimilar (GP2015) had been accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

FDA approves first follow-on insulin glargine treatment

Biosimilars/News | Posted 08/01/2016

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on 16 December 2015 that it had approved Eli Lilly/Boehringer Ingelheim’s biosimilar version of Sanofi’s Lantus (insulin glargine) diabetes treatment.

FDA accepts application for pegfilgrastim biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 04/12/2015

Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, announced on 18 November 2015 that its regulatory submission for its proposed pegfilgrastim biosimilar had been accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Infliximab price wars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 04/12/2015

Merck has reportedly slashed the price of its blockbuster Remicade (Infliximab) in the UK in order to fight off growing competition from infliximab biosimilars.

Celltrion submits rituximab biosimilar application to EMA

Biosimilars/News | Posted 20/11/2015

South Korean biotechnology company Celltrion has, according to Business Korea, submitted a second biosimilar application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Formycon starts phase III trial for ranibizumab biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 13/11/2015

German biosimilars companies Formycon and Bioeq announced on 7 October 2015 that they had initiated a pivotal phase III clinical trial with their candidate ranibizumab biosimilar (FYB201).

Boehringer Ingelheim stops biosimilar rituximab development

Biosimilars/News | Posted 30/10/2015

Germany-based Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals (Boehringer Ingelheim) has reportedly halted clinical development for its biosimilar version (BI 695500) of Roche’s blockbuster leukaemia treatment Rituxan/MabThera (rituximab).

Insulin glargine biosimilar in US delayed until end 2016

Biosimilars/News | Posted 23/10/2015

Pharmaceutical majors Eli Lilly and Sanofi announced on 28 September 2015 that the two companies had agreed to end the legal dispute over biosimilar insulin glargine in the US and to discontinue similar disputes worldwide.

Baxalta and Momenta start phase III trial for adalimumab biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 16/10/2015

Baxalta – a spinoff company from Baxter International – and US-based biotechnology firm Momenta Pharmaceuticals (Momenta) announced on 5 October 2015 that they had started a phase III clinical trial for their adalimumab biosimilar (M923) in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.

FDA accepts application for etanercept biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 09/10/2015

Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, announced on 2 October 2015 that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had accepted its application for its etanercept biosimilar (GP2015).

Another infliximab switching trial started

Biosimilars/News | Posted 02/10/2015

In The Netherlands another study has been initiated into the effects of switching patients from originator infliximab to biosimilar infliximab.

Biosimilar production in Malaysia

Biosimilars/News | Posted 25/09/2015

Malaysian biotech firm Inno Bio Ventures has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iranian firm Aryogen Biopharma. The agreement will lead to the production of the first Malaysian-made biosimilars for the local and regional market.

Biosimilar insulin launched in the UK

Biosimilars/News | Posted 18/09/2015

Eli Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim announced on 26 August 2015 the UK launch of their biosimilar insulin glargine, Abasaglar.

Zarxio first biosimilar to be launched in US

Biosimilars/News | Posted 04/09/2015

The US has entered a new era in medicines with the historic launch of the country’s first biosimilar. Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, announced on 3 September 2015 that it had launched its filgrastim biosimilar, Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz), in the US.