Biosimilars

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).

Barriers to biologicals competition

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 15/01/2016

As finding breakthrough small-molecule drugs becomes more difficult, drug companies are increasingly turning to ‘large molecule’ biologicals. Although biologicals represent many of the most promising new therapies for previously intractable diseases, they are extremely expensive. Moreover, the pathway for generic-type competition set up by the US Congress in 2010 is unlikely to yield significant cost savings.

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).

Low costs and less stringent regulatory requirements in India

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 15/01/2016

Dr Nagaraj Malipatil, a clinical pharmacologist, from Bangalore, India in his review of ‘similar biologics’ in India, outlines some of the drivers of the ‘similar biologics’ market in India [1].

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.

Inflectra PBS listing expected to deliver savings in Australia

Biosimilars/General | Posted 08/01/2016

The infliximab biosimilar Inflectra was approved for listing in Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on 1 December 2015. This is a decision that ‘will deliver immediate savings’ to the Australian Government, according to the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (GBMA), a group that represents generic and biosimilar medicine suppliers in Australia.

Pegfilgrastim biosimilar as safe and effective as Neulasta

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 08/01/2016

Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, announced on 7 December 2015 positive results from a phase III study of its pegfilgrastim biosimilar (LA-EP2006).

Factors affecting the uptake of ‘similar biologics’ in India

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 08/01/2016

In his review of similar biologics in India, Dr Nagaraj Malipatil, a clinical pharmacologist from Bangalore, attempted to address what are the drivers and the limitations to the ‘similar biologics’ market in India [1].

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).

Biosimilar adalimumab application submitted to EMA

Biosimilars/News | Posted 11/12/2015

Biotech giant Amgen announced on 4 December 2015 that it had submitted an application for marketing approval for its adalimumab biosimilar (ABP 501) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA).