Biosimilars/News

EC approves first monoclonal antibody biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 13/09/2013

Hospira announced on 10 September 2013 that it had received European Commission (EC) approval for its biosimilar monoclonal antibody infliximab (Inflectra), a first in Europe.

Biocad signs deal for biosimilar darbepoetin alpha in Turkey

Biosimilars/News | Posted 06/09/2013

Russian biosimilars manufacturer Biocad has signed a definitive agreement with Turkish oncology specialist Koçak Farma for the export of biosimilar darbepoetin alpha active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

Amgen to start phase III trial for biosimilar adalimumab

Biosimilars/News | Posted 27/09/2013

Biotechnology giant Amgen is to start a phase III clinical trial for a biosimilar version of adalimumab in patients suffering from severe rheumatoid arthritis according to the EU Clinical Trials Register.

EMA approves biosimilar follitropin alfa and somatropin

Biosimilars/News | Posted 20/09/2013

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA’s) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 31July 2013 that it had recommended granting of marketing authorization for a biosimilar follitropin alfa. While on 9 September 2013, the agency announced the approval of a new somatropin biosimilar.

Failed biosimilars company to be sold

Biosimilars/News | Posted 20/09/2013

The assets of biosimilars developer Elona Biotechnologies (Elona) will be auctioned on 27 September 2013 unless sold before 6 September 2013.

Celltrion applies for biosimilar infliximab approval in Japan

Biosimilars/News | Posted 13/09/2013

On 11 September 2013, South Korean biotechnology company Celltrion announced that it had filed for approval of Remsima, its biosimilar infliximab monoclonal antibody, with Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW).

Baxter and Coherus to collaborate on biosimilars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 06/09/2013

Baxter International (Baxter) has made another agreement for biosimilars, this time with fledgling biotech company Coherus Biosciences (Coherus).

Roche abandons Herceptin patent in India

Biosimilars/News | Posted 30/08/2013

Swiss-based pharma giant Roche has decided not to pursue its patent for its blockbuster cancer drug Herceptin (trastuzumab) in India, opening the market to biosimilars.

Indian firms chasing ‘similar biologic’ Herceptin

Biosimilars/News | Posted 30/08/2013

Following the decision by Swiss-based pharma giant Roche not to pursue its patent for Herceptin (trastuzumab) in India [1] it seems that a whole host of Indian firms are lining up to get their ‘similar biologic’ of the blockbuster cancer drug to market.

Apotex breaking into the North American and European G-CSF markets

Biosimilars/News | Posted 23/08/2013

A new biosimilar filgrastim is poised to enter the important granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) market following a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA’s) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).

EMA approval for Teva’s long-acting recombinant G-CSF

Biosimilars/News | Posted 23/08/2013

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted marketing authorization for a new long-acting filgrastim – Lonquex (XM22 lipegfilgrastim) – to prevent chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in cancer patients.

AstraZeneca pursuing biosimilars with Celltrion bid

Biosimilars/News | Posted 16/08/2013

Pharma giant AstraZeneca is rumoured to be ready to join the race for biosimilars with a bid for South Korean biotechnology company Celltrion.

Teva and Lonza end biosimilars agreement

Biosimilars/News | Posted 09/08/2013

Despite Switzerland-based API producer Lonza denying reports back in April 2013 that it was considering backing out of its biosimilars joint venture with Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Teva) that is just what has happened.

EMA reviewing biosimilar insulin application

Biosimilars/News | Posted 02/08/2013

According to EMA’s list of applications for new human medicines under evaluation by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use released on 4 July 2013 the agency is now reviewing a new application for a biosimilar insulin product.

Biosimilar G-CSF prescribed more than originator

Biosimilars/News | Posted 02/08/2013

Sandoz, the generic drug division of Swiss drug giant Novartis, announced on 22 July 2013 that its biosimilar granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) Zarzio (filgrastim) has overtaken the originator product in terms of prescriptions.

Sandoz to start phase III etanercept trial

Biosimilars/News | Posted 24/05/2013

Sandoz, the generic drug division of Swiss drug giant Novartis, is to start a phase III clinical trial for a biosimilar version of etanercept in patients suffering from psoriasis, according to the EU Clinical Trials Register.

Pfizer to start trial for biosimilar adalimumab

Biosimilars/News | Posted 21/06/2013

Pharma giant Pfizer is once again expanding its pipeline of biosimilars and is set to start a phase I study for its biosimilar adalimumab candidate (PF-06410293) according to ClinicalTrials.gov, the US clinical trials website.

Sandoz comments on EMA’s new draft biosimilars guidance

Biosimilars/News | Posted 21/06/2013

Sandoz, the generic drug division of Swiss drug giant Novartis, is pleased that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a draft revised guideline on non-clinical and clinical issues in biosimilar product development.

Celltrion applies for Korean approval of biosimilar trastuzumab

Biosimilars/News | Posted 07/06/2013

On 4 June 2013, South Korean biotechnology company Celltrion announced that it had filed for approval of its biosimilar candidate CT-P6 with the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS, formerly the Korea Food and Drug Administration).

Russia to harmonize biologicals regulations

Biosimilars/News | Posted 31/05/2013

International regulatory bodies and the drug industry met in Moscow on 15 May 2013 to discuss how to harmonize Russia’s regulatory standards for biologicals with the rest of the world to develop a framework for pharma companies developing biologicals and biosimilars in Russia.

Huahai and Oncobiologics make biosimilars deal

Biosimilars/News | Posted 24/05/2013

US-based Oncobiologics announced on 8 May 2013 that it had signed an alliance agreement for the development, manufacture and commercialization of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies with Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical (Huahai).

Agila Biotech and Pfenex make biosimilars deal

Biosimilars/News | Posted 17/05/2013

Agila Biotech, a subsidiary of India-based Strides Arcolab, and US-based biotech firm Pfenex announced on 16 April 2013 that they had entered into a joint venture for biosimilars.

Sanofi starts biosimilar insulin trials

Biosimilars/News | Posted 10/05/2013

Pharma giant Sanofi confirmed in its 2013 Q1 business report that its biosimilar insulin projects have entered into phase I of clinical development as planned. Sanofi intends to develop these insulin products in order to further enlarge the Sanofi diabetes portfolio and better serve the needs of people with diabetes.

Intas launches rituximab ‘similar biologic’ in India

Biosimilars/News | Posted 10/05/2013

India-based generics company Intas Pharmaceuticals (Intas) announced the launch of a ‘similar biologic’ – as the Indian regulatory authorities call these products –version of rituximab in India.

Sandoz applies for Japanese approval for biosimilar G-CSF

Biosimilars/News | Posted 03/05/2013

Novartis generics unit Sandoz announced on 25 April 2013 that it has filed an application with the Japanese health authority – Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) – for marketing authorization of EP2006, a biosimilar version of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).

Biosimilars agreements for Hospira and mAbxience

Biosimilars/News | Posted 03/05/2013

In line with Hospira’s strategy of expansion into biosimilars, the injectable generics specialist announced on 29 April 2013 that it had entered into a collaborative arrangement for several biosimilar products with NovaQuest Co-Investment Fund I, L.P. (NovaQuest).

Hospira marks five years of biosimilars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 29/04/2013

Self-proclaimed world leader in injectable drugs, Hospira, commemorated five years of providing biosimilars to the European market at the BIO International Convention in Chicago, USA, on 24 April 2013.

Celltrion stops phase III trial of biosimilar rituximab

Biosimilars/News | Posted 29/04/2013

South Korean biotechnology company Celltrion has stopped the late-stage trial of its biosimilar version of Roche’s blockbuster arthritis/non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma drug MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab).

Cipla launches first etanercept ‘similar biologic’ in India

Biosimilars/News | Posted 19/04/2013

India-based generics manufacturer Cipla announced on 17 April 2013 the launch of its ‘similar biologic’ product Etacept, the first ‘similar biologic’ of etanercept in India.

Lonza not backing out on biosimilars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 12/04/2013

Lonza has made a statement refuting reports that the Switzerland-based company was considering backing out of its biosimilars joint venture with Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Teva).

Amgen’s biosimilar plans

Biosimilars/News | Posted 05/04/2013

Amgen was one of the first companies to recognize the potential of modern biotechnology and this has made it the world’s largest independent biotechnology firm.

Lonza/Teva biosimilar pact in jeopardy

Biosimilars/News | Posted 05/04/2013

Switzerland-based API producer and custom manufacturing organization Lonza is reviewing whether it is still worth investing in its joint venture for biosimilars with Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Teva).

Sandoz’s biosimilar rituximab on track

Biosimilars/News | Posted 29/03/2013

The development of a biosimilar version of Rituxan (rituximab) is proceeding as planned, Sandoz’s Global Head, Mr Jeff George told Bloomberg.

When will the US biosimilars pathway be used

Biosimilars/News | Posted 22/03/2013

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg presented the latest statistics on the US biosimilar pathway during a speech at the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council’s (MassBio) Annual Meeting on 15 March 2013.

Greece says no to automatic substitution of biologicals

Biosimilars/News | Posted 15/03/2013

Greece’s Medicines Agency (National Organization for Medicines, Ethnikos Organismos Farmakon, EOF) released a document on 13 March 2013 recommending against automatic substitution/interchangeability of reference biologicals and their biosimilars.

Japan approves second biosimilar G-CSF

Biosimilars/News | Posted 08/03/2013

Japan has granted regulatory approval to a second biosimilar granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).

XBiotech moves into biosimilars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 08/03/2013

US-based biotech company XBiotech announced on 26 February 2013 that the company would be expanding its portfolio to include biosimilars.

Mylan and Biocon to partner on insulin products

Biosimilars/News | Posted 01/03/2013

Generics giant Mylan announced on 13 February 2013 that it had entered into an agreement with India-based Biocon to develop and market Biocon’s biosimilar versions of three insulin analogue products.

Oncobiologics and Viropro make biosimilar deal

Biosimilars/News | Posted 01/03/2013

US-based Oncobiologics and monoclonal antibody developer Viropro announced on 25 February 2013 that they had signed a biosimilar collaboration agreement between the two companies.

Production of 24 biogeneric products in Iran by 2012

Biosimilars/News | Posted 03/02/2012

According to reports on Iran’s English-language television network, Press TV, Iran is making significant advances in biogeneric products and biotechnology drugs and is planning to start the production of 24 additional biogeneric products drugs by the end of 2012.