Biosimilars/News

EC approval of trastuzumab biosimilar Herwenda

Biosimilars/News | Posted 23/01/2024

The European Commission (EC) granted marketing authorization for trastuzumab biosimilar Herwenda on 15 November 2023. The biosimilar of Herwenda is developed by EirGenix, Inc.

EC approval of first ustekinumab biosimilar Uzpruvo

Biosimilars/News | Posted 16/01/2024

On 5 January 2024, the European Commission (EC) granted marketing authorization for the first ustekinumab biosimilar Uzpruvo (AVT04). The biosimilar of Uzpruvo is developed by Iceland-based biosimilar manufacturer Alvotech.

Alvotech: rejection AVT02 in the US and new partnerships with Prolifarma and Advanz Pharma

Biosimilars/News | Posted 03/08/2023

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected Alvotech’s biologicals licence application (BLA) for their biosimilar adalimumab AVT02 in June 2023. Alvotech has also formed new partnerships with Prolifarma and Advanz Pharma for proposed biosimilars to Eylea (aflibercept) and Xolair (omalizumab), respectively.

Rinvoq approved to treat Crohn’s disease in Europe

Biosimilars/News | Posted 27/04/2023

On 17 April 2022, AbbVie announced that its Rinvoq (upadacitinib) had received European Commission (EC) approval. It is the  first and only oral Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor approved to treat moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in adult patients. Rinvoq has the potential to rival AbbVie’s own blockbuster drug, Humira (adalimumab) and its biosimilars for inflammatory autoimmune conditions [1].

EMA recommends approval of ranibizumab biosimilar Rimmyrah

Biosimilars/News | Posted 12/12/2023

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use announced on 9 November 2023 that it had recommended granting of marketing authorization for Rimmyrah (ranibizumab), a biosimilar that references ophthalmology drug, Lucentis.

FDA approves Zymfentra and advances for Yuflyma in the US

Biosimilars/News | Posted 05/12/2023

On 23 October 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Celltrion’s Zymfentra (infliximab-dyyb) biosimilar as the first subcutaneous (SC) formulation of infliximab. In addition, Celltrion USA signed a contract with Ventegra to add Yuflyma (adalimumab-aaty) as a preferred formulary product in both public and private insurance markets.

EC approval of natalizumab, aflibercept and tocilizumab biosimilars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 28/11/2023

In September 2023, the European Commission (EC) granted marketing authorization for the biosimilars of Tyruko (natalizumab), Yesafili (aflibercept), and Tyenne (tocilizumab).

EMA recommends approval of first ustekinumab biosimilar Uzpruvo

Biosimilars/News | Posted 14/11/2023

On 9 November 2023, the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for the medicinal product Uzpruvo (ustekinumab), a biosimilar of reference product Stelara, intended for the treatment plaque psoriasis, including paediatric plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and Crohn’s disease in adults.

FDA approves first interchangeable ustekinumab biosimilar Wezlana

Biosimilars/News | Posted 07/11/2023

On 31 October 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Wezlana (ustekinumab-auub) as a biosimilar to and interchangeable with Stelara (ustekinumab) for multiple inflammatory diseases.

Alvotech biosimilars: FDA ustekinumab application rejection; adalimumab interchangeability designation re-submission

Biosimilars/News | Posted 31/10/2023

In October 2023, Iceland-based biosimilar manufacturer Alvotech, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a complete response letter (CRL) for Alvotech’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for AVT04, a biosimilar candidate to Stelara (ustekinumab). As such, the application was not approved. This follows Alvotech’s September 2023 resubmission of a BLA for their high-concentration biosimilar formulation to AbbVie’s blockbuster arthritis treatment Humira (adalimumab), AVT02 [1], following receipt of a similar CRL.

Japanese approval for first ustekinumab biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 24/10/2023

Iceland-based biosimilar manufacturer Alvotech announced on 25 September 2023 that its commercialization partner in Japan, Fuji Pharma Co Ltd (Fuji) had received marketing approval from Japan’s medicines regulatory agency, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), for its ustekinumab biosimilar AVT04 in Japan.

FDA approves first tocilizumab biosimilar Tofidence

Biosimilars/News | Posted 17/10/2023

On 29 September 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Tofidence (tocilizumab-bavi) as the first biosimilar to Actemra (tocilizumab). Tofidence is first-of-its-kind biosimilar tocilizumab to receive approval in the US.

FDA grants interchangeable designation to adalimumab biosimilar Abrilada

Biosimilars/News | Posted 10/10/2023

US-based pharma giant Pfizer announced on 5 October 2023 that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated Abrilada (adalimumab-afzb) as an interchangeable biosimilar to Humira (adalimumab). The interchangeable designation applies to all approved indications of Abrilada, including certain patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa and uveitis. 

EMA recommends approval of trastuzumab biosimilar Herwenda

Biosimilars/News | Posted 03/10/2023

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 15 September 2023 that it had recommended granting of marketing authorization for the trastuzumab biosimilar Herwenda, 150 mg, for intravenous use.

FDA approves first natalizumab biosimilar Tyruko for MS

Biosimilars/News | Posted 15/09/2023

On 24 August 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Tyruko (natalizumab-sztn) as the first biosimilar to Tysabri (natalizumab) for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Tyruko is first-of-its-kind biosimilar natalizumab to receive approval in the US.

EMA recommends approval of first natalizumab biosimilar Tyruko for MS

Biosimilars/News | Posted 25/08/2023

On 20 July 2023, the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of marketing authorisation for the medicinal product Tyruko (natalizumab), a biosimilar of reference product Tysabri, intended for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

China approves bevacizumab copy biological Ankeda

Biosimilars/News | Posted 31/01/2020

China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), formerly the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), announced on 9 December 2019 that it had approved Ankeda, a bevacizumab copy biological.

EMA recommends approval of first aflibercept and tocilizumab biosimilars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 11/08/2023

On 20 July 2023, the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion, recommending the granting of marketing authorisation for the medicinal product Yesafili (aflibercept), an ophthalmology biosimilar, and Tyenne (tocilizumab), an immunosuppressant used largely for treatment of arthritis. 

Coherus: lowest price adalimumab biosimilars announced

Biosimilars/News | Posted 28/07/2023

Coherus BioSciences has announced that it will launch Yusimry, its adalimumab biosimilar, at the lowest price announced to date in the US. 

Celltrion: advances for Yuflyma and Vegzelma biosimilars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 20/06/2023

In the first half of 2023, South-Korea based Celltrion Biologics announced the approval of their Yuflyma (adalimumab-aaty) biosimilar in the US, the winning of a bid to supply Italy and Belgium with bevacizumab biosimilar Vegzelma.