Biosimilars

Positive phase I results for Bio-Thera’s bevacizumab copy biological

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 21/06/2019

China-based Bio‑Thera Solutions (Bio‑Thera) has published phase I results for its candidate bevacizumab copy biological, BAT1706 [1].

Is switching to biosimilar infliximab safe?

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 14/06/2019

Building on a number of studies on biosimilar infliximab for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a recent review shows switching to CT-P13 is safe, but more evidence is needed on switching back to originator and switching between biosimilars [1].

Trastuzumab biosimilar from Prestige accepted for review by EMA

Biosimilars/News | Posted 14/06/2019

Singapore-based Prestige BioPharma (Prestige) announced on 28 May 2019 that the regulatory submission for its proposed trastuzumab biosimilar Tuznue (HD201) had been accepted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Eli Lilly launches lower-priced insulin lispro

Biosimilars/General | Posted 14/06/2019

Eli Lilly announced on 22 May 2019 that it had launched the lower-priced authorized biosimilar version of its diabetes treatment Humalog (insulin lispro) in the US.

Brazilian approval for trastuzumab follow-on biological Herzuma (trastuzumab-pkrb)

Biosimilars/News | Posted 14/06/2019

South Korean biosimilars firm Celltrion announced on 23 May 2019 that the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, ANVISA) had approved its trastuzumab follow-on biological, Herzuma (trastuzumab-pkrb).

UnitedHealthcare to prefer brand-name pegfilgrastim

Biosimilars/General | Posted 14/06/2019

US health insurance provider UnitedHealthcare has announced that it will prefer use of brand-name pegfilgrastim over the biosimilar versions.

Sandoz’s rosuvastatin approved under China’s new Quality Consistency Evaluation system

Biosimilars/News | Posted 14/06/2019

Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, announced on 9 May 2019 that it had received regulatory approval from China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its generic rosuvastatin, under the recently introduced Quality Consistency Evaluation (QCE) system.

Biosimilars to replace older biologicals for IBD

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 07/06/2019

Biosimilars will gradually replace older biological drugs for IBD, however, issues – such as the safety of multiple switches – remain, says a recent assessment published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences [1].

Trastuzumab biosimilar Ogivri approved in Canada

Biosimilars/News | Posted 07/06/2019

India-based biologicals specialist Biocon and US-based partner Mylan announced on 22 May 2019 that Health Canada had approved Mylan’s trastuzumab biosimilar Ogivri.

Irish hospitals to get incentives to switch patients to biosimilars

Biosimilars/General | Posted 07/06/2019

Hospitals in Ireland are being offered a Euros 500 incentive for every patient they switch off two expensive biologicals to cheaper biosimilars.

Brazilian approval for trastuzumab follow-on biological Ontruzant

Biosimilars/News | Posted 07/06/2019

Korea-based Samsung Bioepis (Samsung and Biogen’s joint venture) announced on 27 May 2019 that the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, ANVISA) had approved its trastuzumab follow-on biological, Ontruzant.

Dramatic price reduction of trastuzumab in Malaysia

Biosimilars/General | Posted 07/06/2019

The price of the cancer drug trastuzumab has dropped by more than half in Malaysia following a recent tender to the Ministry of Health.

NeuClone to start phase I trial for ustekinumab biosimilar

Biosimilars/News | Posted 31/05/2019

Australian biologicals company NeuClone announced on 15 May 2019 that it would start a phase I clinical trial of its ustekinumab biosimilar, NeuLara, in the second half of 2019.

Settlement for Udenyca and win for Zarxio

Biosimilars/General | Posted 31/05/2019

Amgen has made a settlement with respect to pegfilgrastim biosimilar Udenyca, but has lost its appeal against filgrastim biosimilar Zarxio.

Positive results for rituximab copy biological IBI301

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 31/05/2019

US-based pharma giant Eli Lilly, and its partner China-based Innovent Biologics (Innovent), announced on 7 May 2019 positive data from two clinical studies of their rituximab copy biological (IBI301) compared to Rituxan (rituximab).

Biocon/Mylan gain global rights to adalimumab biosimilar Hulio

Biosimilars/General | Posted 31/05/2019

India-based biologicals specialist Biocon and US-based partner Mylan announced on 7 May 2019 that they have gained the global rights to the adalimumab biosimilar Hulio.

GaBI Journal is the number one journal publishing on biosimilars

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 24/05/2019

The first ever global bibliometric analysis on biosimilars finds that GaBI Journal is the number one journal publishing on biosimilars. The study also shows that research on biosimilars is increasing, but is currently dominated by countries in the West such as the USA [1].

Recommendations published by Canadian breast cancer advocacy group

Biosimilars/General | Posted 24/05/2019

In April 2019, an advocacy group for patients with breast cancer in Canada – the Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) - published recommendations related to use of biosimilars in a white paper, entitled ‘Breast Cancer & Biosimilars Recommendations on Use, Implementation and Patient Communications’. These recommendations were informed by insights collected from virtual roundtable discussions with patients and medical oncologists.

Russian approval for non-originator eculizumab

Biosimilars/News | Posted 24/05/2019

Russian biotechnology company Generium and Swiss-based cell-line producer Selexis announced on 9 April 2019 that the Russian Ministry of Health had approved their eculizumab non-originator biological drug, Elizaria. The drug is a non-originator biological of Soliris (eculizumab), which is made by Alexion Pharmaceuticals.

BiosanaPharma starts phase I trial for omalizumab biosimilar in Australia

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 24/05/2019

Dutch biosimilars developer BiosanaPharma announced on 21 February 2019 that it had received permission from the Australian Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) to start a phase I clinical trial of their first pipeline product, omalizumab.

Canadian organizations collaborate to improve biosimilar adoption in cancer and inflammatory rheumatic and bowel disease

Biosimilars/General | Posted 17/05/2019

With a number of biosimilars expected to launch in Canada in 2019 and beyond, Canadian organizations are collaborating to improve biosimilar adoption. Canada lags behind the European Union in terms of approval and uptake of biosimilars [1].

Adalimumab biosimilar Idacio launched in Germany

Biosimilars/News | Posted 17/05/2019

Fresenius Kabi, one of the independently operated business segments of global healthcare group Fresenius, announced on 3 May 2019 that it had launched its adalimumab biosimilar Idacio in Germany.

ASCO/ASH give recommendations for biosimilar ESAs

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 17/05/2019

Recommendations for biosimilar erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in the management of cancer-associated anaemia have been issued by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Society of Hematology (ASH).

Biosimilars education still needed for US and EU clinicians

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 10/05/2019

A review of the literature has concluded that healthcare providers are still cautious when it comes to biosimilars and that clinician-directed education is still needed to increase biosimilar knowledge, facilitate prescribing changes and increase use of biosimilars [1].

EMA approval for pegfilgrastim biosimilar Grasustek

Biosimilars/News | Posted 10/05/2019

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 26 April 2019 that it had recommended the granting of a marketing authorization for the pegfilgrastim biosimilar Grasustek.

Patient and provider views on biosimilars to treat breast cancer

Biosimilars/General | Posted 10/05/2019

A Canadian breast cancer advocacy group collected insights from patients and medical oncologists regarding the use of biosimilar treatments.

Pharmacokinetic assessment of biosimilar therapeutic monoclonal antibodies

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 10/05/2019

Comparison of the clinical pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of a biosimilar with that of the reference product is an important step in the development of biosimilars. In a recent review, Ishii-Watabe and Kuwabara outline key considerations for the comparative studies required for biosimilar development, focusing on the clinical PK profiles of biosimilar therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and their reference products [1].

FDA approves etanercept biosimilar Eticovo

Biosimilars/News | Posted 03/05/2019

Korean biosimilars maker Samsung Bioepis (Samsung and Biogen’s joint venture) announced on 25 April 2019 that it had received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its etanercept biosimilar.

ASCO/ASH update ESA recommendations

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 03/05/2019

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Society of Hematology (ASH) have updated their recommendations on the management of cancer-associated anaemia with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).

Biosimilar comparability assessment

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 03/05/2019

In a recent review, Ishii-Watabe and Kuwabara summarize the principles of biosimilar development and outline key considerations for studies comparing a biosimilar with its reference product [1].

FDA to hold public meeting on access to affordable insulin

Biosimilars/General | Posted 26/04/2019

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking input on the challenges and opportunities the agency should consider as it prepares for the submission and review of applications for biosimilar and interchangeable insulin products, as well as about the development process for such products.

Comparability of biosimilar Ontruzant maintained over three years

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 26/04/2019

Samsung Bioepis has presented positive long-term results for its trastuzumab biosimilar Ontruzant (SB3) at the 16th International Maternal Cancer Congress St Gallen 2019, which was held in Vienna, Austria.

Intas launches trastuzumab similar biologic in India at 65% discount

Biosimilars/News | Posted 26/04/2019

India-based generics maker Intas Pharmaceuticals (Intas) announced on 9 April 2019 the launch of its product Eleftha, a ‘similar biologic’ of trastuzumab, in India. The new product, claims the company, will bring down the cost of breast cancer treatment by nearly 65%.

Clinical development of a bevacizumab biosimilar

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 26/04/2019

Authors, Kambiz Novin and Nafiseh Mortazavi, from medical faculties of Iranian Universities, discuss the methodological considerations for the clinical development of a bevacizumab biosimilar [1].

Biosimilar drug packaging does not meet EU guidelines on readability

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 19/04/2019

Analysis of 35 biosimilar medicines licensed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) finds packaging to be more complex than recommended. None of the packaging leaflets analysed were found to be ‘easy to understand’, with sections on therapeutic indication and side effects found to be the most complex [1].

Rituximab biosimilar Truxima approved in Canada

Biosimilars/News | Posted 19/04/2019

Teva Canada Innovation, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, announced on 10 April 2019 that Health Canada had approved its rituximab biosimilar Truxima. This marks the first rituximab biosimilar to be approved by the Canadian medicines’ regulator.

Eli Lilly to introduce half-price authorized insulin biosimilar in US

Biosimilars/General | Posted 19/04/2019

With high drug prices increasingly coming into the spotlight, Eli Lilly has announced that it will introduce a lower-priced authorized biosimilar version of its diabetes treatment Humalog (insulin lispro) in the US.

Economic considerations for biosimilars in the US

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 19/04/2019

Smeeding and colleagues explore cost considerations related to biosimilars in the US, and present a broad perspective on value beyond price reduction in a recent review.

EC approval for adalimumab biosimilar Idacio

Biosimilars/News | Posted 12/04/2019

Fresenius Kabi, the generics unit of German healthcare giant Fresenius, announced on 3 April 2019 that it had received European Commission (EC) approval for its adalimumab biosimilar Idacio (MSB11455).

Efficacy and safety of bevacizumab biosimilar ABP 215

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 12/04/2019

Authors from the US and Europe report data from a phase III study comparing the clinical efficacy and safety of the bevacizumab biosimilar ABP 215 (Mvasi) with originator bevacizumab Avastin in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [1].