Guidelines

IPRF issues draft reflection paper for biosimilars extrapolation

The Biosimilars Working Group (BWG) of the International Pharmaceutical Regulators Forum (IPRF) announced on 6 September 2016 that it had released a draft reflection paper on the extrapolation of indications in the authorization of biosimilars.

EMA adopts new guidance on monitoring of biologicals

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on 15 August 2016 that it had introduced a new guideline on the monitoring of biologicals, including biosimilars.

Europe to revise drug similarity concept under orphan legislation

The European Commission announced on 27 July 2016 a proposal to review the concept of ‘similar medicinal products’ in the context of the orphan legislation.

FDA withdraws biosimilar suffix proposal

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it is withdrawing a request for comments on expanding the number of suffixes biosimilars makers can propose.

FDA asks for input on product-specific generics guidelines

In order to further facilitate the availability of generics and to assist the generics industry with identifying the most appropriate methodology for developing drugs, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released 19 new draft guidance documents and 19 revisions to guidance documents.

Biosimilarity statement unnecessary according to industry

Industry groups have expressed concerns about the proposal for a biosimilarity statement in the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) draft guidance on biosimilar labelling.

Updated guideline on the use of epoetin and darbepoetin in cancer patients

Patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer can often become anaemic as their red blood cell counts, and hence iron levels, fall. Besides the traditional approach of offering blood transfusion in order to restore iron levels, physicians can now treat patients with drugs that stimulate red blood cell development – known as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). Both treatments can boost iron-containing haemoglobin (Hb) levels, but they also pose risks to the patients. With transfusions, patients are at risk from serious infections and immune-mediated adverse events, while with ESAs; there is an increased risk of thromboembolism and death from other (but poorly understood) causes [1].

FDA increases number of biological suffix proposals

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a slight change to its guidance on naming biologicals, which will allow companies to propose up to 10 suffixes for each new biological or biosimilar. The agency announced the change in a Federal Register notice released on 2 June 2016.

EMA releases reflection paper for generic oral immediate release products

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on 13 May 2016 the publication of draft guidance on the dissolution requirements for orally administered generics with immediate release characteristics.

FDA issues guidance on data integrity and GMP

The recent flood of data integrity problems identified at the manufacturing sites of drugmakers from India, China and elsewhere has led the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to draft new guidance addressing the issue.

FDA issues draft guidance on biosimilars labelling

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on 31 March 2016 that it had issued draft guidance for industry on labelling for biosimilars. The guidance is open for comment for a period of two months.

India releases revised guidelines for ‘similar biologics’

On 26 March 2016, India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) announced the release of proposed revised guidance for ‘similar biologics’ in India.

EMA publishes guidance on publication of clinical trials data

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on 3 March 2016 the publication of detailed guidance on the requirements for pharmaceutical companies to comply with the agency’s policy on publication of clinical trials data for medicines.

BSG guidance recommends switching to biosimilar infliximab

The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) released new guidance in February 2016 recommending that stable patients be switched to biosimilar infliximab (CT-P13).

FDA releases 47 new and revised bioequivalence guidelines for generics

Generics makers have a whole host of new bioequivalence documents to go through. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on 27 January 2016 that it had released 35 new draft guidance documents and 12 revisions to guidance documents on bioequivalence requirements for the development of generics containing 42 different active ingredients.

FDA finalizes guidance for biosimilars meetings

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on 18 November 2015 that it had finalized its guidance for industry on formal meetings between the FDA and biosimilars sponsors.

Health Canada issues draft revised SEB guideline

Canada’s federal department responsible for health, Health Canada, has issued a new draft revised guidance document on the information and submission requirements for subsequent entry biologics (SEBs). The draft guideline, issued on 7 December 2015, provides guidance to sponsors to enable them to satisfy the information and regulatory requirements under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations for the authorization of SEBs in Canada.

EMA to revise biosimilar interferon alfa guidance

On 4 January 2016, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) released a draft concept paper on the revision of the reflection paper on non-clinical and clinical development of interferon alfa biosimilars. The draft will be released for a three-month consultation period by the pharmaceutical industry and competent authorities of the Member States, as well as by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and its working parties.

EU guidelines for biosimilars

Last update: 8 January 2016

The regulatory body for approval of medicines in the European Union (EU) is the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The agency is responsible for the scientific evaluation of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies for use in the EU.

FDA issues final guidance on generics information requests

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued final guidance for generics makers on how to make formal requests for information. The final guideline, issued on 29 September 2015, provides information regarding the process by which generics makers can submit correspondence to FDA requesting information on generics development.

India to revise ‘similar biologics’ guideline

The Indian Ministry of Health is planning to revise its guidelines for approving ‘similar biologics’. The ministry aims to make the regulatory pathway more robust and to align the guidelines further with global guidelines for biosimilars.

GPhA challenges FDA guidance on size and shape of generic pills

In June 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published guidance on the size, shape and other physical attributes of generic tablets and capsules [1]. However, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) has raised a number of concerns about the guidance.

FDA to hold public meeting on reauthorization of BsUFA

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking specific suggestions on potential changes to the Biosimilar User Fee Act (BsUFA) performance goals ahead of negotiations to reauthorize the law.

FDA defends lack of biosimilars guidelines

The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) director for the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Dr Janet Woodcock, told senators on 17 September 2015 that a critical part of launching a robust US biosimilars market and setting up the regulations to support it is to make sure the scientific framework is ‘bulletproof’.

FDA issues draft guidance on naming biologicals

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued another draft guidance for biosimilars. The draft guideline, issued on 27 August 2015, details the FDA’s proposal on the non-proprietary naming of biological products.

FDA releases 48 new and revised bioequivalence guidelines for generics

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released 44 new draft guidance documents and four revisions to guidance documents on bioequivalence requirements for the development of generics containing 46 different active ingredients. 

FDA wants generics to be physically same as originators

Until now generics have been required to be pharmaceutically equivalent and bioequivalent to the brand-name drug, however, generics made by different manufacturers could differ substantially from their brand-name therapeutic equivalents and from each other in their physical appearance, e.g. colour, shape or size of pills. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), aims to change this, with guidance issued in June 2015 recommending that the physical properties, including the size, shape and colour, of generics should be similar to those of their reference drugs.

US guidelines for generics

Last update: 14 August 2015

The regulatory body for approval of medicines in the US is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Australia implements EMA’s biosimilars guidelines

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia’s regulatory body for therapeutic goods, announced on 3 June 2015 that it had adopted ten European Union (EU) guidelines in Australia.

EMA opens consultation on revision of biosimilar G-CSF guideline

On 27 July 2015, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) released a draft concept paper to discuss its planned revision of its specific guideline for biosimilars containing recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). The draft concept paper has been released for a three-month consultation period.

FDA outlines details of surveys into physical differences in generics

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a Federal Register notice published on 14 May 2015 has outlined how it will carry out pharmacist and patient surveys into how changes in the physical characteristics of generics pills affect patients’ perceptions.

Colombia issues further draft guidelines for biologicals

The Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social de Colombia) announced on 12 May 2015 the release of a new draft guideline on stability of biologicals in Colombia. The country also published a draft guideline on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for biologicals on 17 April 2015.

FDA issues another biosimilars Q&A guidance

On 13 May 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued another question and answer guidance document for biosimilar applications in the US. The draft guidance contains a question on the issue of interchangeability with reference biologicals.

Australia to adopt EMA’s biosimilars guidelines

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia’s regulatory body for therapeutic goods, announced on 10 April 2015 that it was carrying out public consultations on the adoption of European Union (EU) guidelines in Australia.

FDA to hold public meeting on GDUFA

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking specific suggestions on potential changes to the Generic Drug User Fee Act (GDUFA) performance goals and ways to improve procedures, ahead of negotiations to reauthorize the law.

FDA finalizes biosimilars guidelines

Three years after first issuing draft guidance on biosimilars, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally issued three final guidelines for biosimilar applications in the US. The guidances, however, fail to address the issue of interchangeability with reference biologicals, which the agency says it will address in another document.

EMA rejects comparators from outside EEA for insulin biosimilars

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) released its finalized guideline on the non-clinical and clinical development of insulin biosimilars in March 2015 [1]. However, while the guidance took into account many of the comments made by stakeholders on the second draft, the agency rejected requests to accept batches of reference (approved) biological products sourced from outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

FDA guidance on excipients questioned

The International Pharmaceutical Excipient Council of the Americas (IPEC-Americas) has written to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outlining major concerns related to the agency’s guidance on inactive ingredients in abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs).

EMA issues finalized insulin biosimilars guideline

In March 2015, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) released its finalized guideline on the non-clinical and clinical development of insulin biosimilars.

FDA plans to release four biosimilar guidances during 2015

The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) is planning to release four new guidance documents on biosimilars during calendar year 2015.

Mexico issues rules on biolimbos

The Mexican regulatory body for approval of medicines, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS), has issued rules for older non-originator biologicals registered prior to 19 October 2011, when the country’s guidelines for biocomparables were first published, mandating that companies conduct clinical trials to prove biosimilarity.

FDA calls for comment on generics user fees guidelines

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in a Federal register publication of 6 February 2015 the reopening of the docket to solicit public comment on certain topics related to implementation of the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2012 (GDUFA) and the GDUFA Commitment Letter that accompanies the legislation.

FDA calls for comment on biosimilars interchangeability

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants drugmakers to comment on the information requirements for biosimilars interchangeability.

FDA releases 53 new and revised bioequivalence guidelines for generics

On 12 December 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released 31 new draft guidance documents and 22 revisions to guidance documents on bioequivalence requirements for the development of generics containing 42 different active ingredients.

Australia reviewing plans for naming biosimilars

Australia’s drug regulatory agency, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), has changed its plans for naming biosimilars, ‘following recent international developments in the area of biosimilar naming’.

EMA issues revised guideline on non-clinical and clinical issues for biosimilars

On 18 December 2014, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published the new version of its guideline addressing the non-clinical and clinical issues related to similar biological products (biosimilars) containing biotechnology-derived proteins as the active substance. This new guideline will revise the agency’s 2006 overarching guideline on the non-clinical and clinical issues related to similar biological medicinal products.

FDA to carry out survey into affect of generics shape, colour, size

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to understand how patients’ perceptions of medications change when pharmacies switch from brand-name to generic drugs or between the same generics made by different manufacturers and how this affects patient adherence to their medication.

China releases draft biosimilars guidance

On 29 October 2014 China’s Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) published draft guidance for approval of biosimilars.

EMA issues revised version of overarching biosimilars guideline

On 29 October 2014, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published the new version of its overarching biosimilars guideline, which will revise the agency’s 2005 overarching guideline on similar biological medicinal products.

Concerns from EU and US over Colombian biologicals guidelines

On 21 January 2013, the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection (Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social de Colombia) released a new draft guideline for biologicals, including 'productos bioterapéuticos similares' (similar biotherapeutic products), in Colombia [1]. Since then, both the European Union (EU) and the US have expressed concerns over the draft guidelines.

Generics group calls for say on ICH standards

The generics industry is somewhat annoyed at being excluded from the decision-making process of a global organization, which harmonizes drug quality, safety and efficacy standards.

Generics makers comment on draft ANDA guidance

The quality of abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) submissions could be improved if the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spent more time with generics companies before they file an application, according to the Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA).

FDA releases draft guidance on reference product exclusivity for biologicals

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new draft guidance concerning biosimilars. The draft guidance, issued on 5 August 2014, is intended to assist sponsors in determining the date of first licensure for a reference product.

FDA releases new guidance outlining generics review goals

In July 2014, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued two new draft guidance documents, which outline the agency’s goals for speeding up its handling of regulatory submissions from generics makers.

EMA issues revised version of biosimilars quality guideline

On 26 June 2014, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published the new version of its biosimilars quality guideline, which will revise the agency’s 2005 overarching guideline on the quality of similar biological medicinal products. The guideline will come into effect by the end of the year.