Biosimilars

Long-term stability of trastuzumab biosimilar under various storage conditions

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 08/02/2019

Trastuzumab (TTZ) is a monoclonal antibody that interferes with the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). In some cancers, including certain types of breast cancers and gastric cancers, HER2 is overexpressed, causing cancer cells to reproduce uncontrollably. TTZ can be used in the management of these cancers.

EMA approval for adalimumab biosimilars Idacio and Kromeya

Biosimilars/News | Posted 08/02/2019

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 31 January 2019 that it had recommended granting marketing authorization for the adalimumab biosimilars Idacio and Kromeya.

Barriers and facilitators to biosimilar prescribing in the UK

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 08/02/2019

At present, the rate of uptake of biosimilars is keenly debated among stakeholders in different healthcare specialties. Aladul et al. examined the perspectives on biosimilars among healthcare professionals (HCPs) from gastroenterology, rheumatology and diabetes specialities to shed light on barriers and facilitators to their prescribing in the UK [1]. In a qualitative, cross-sectional study, 22 HCPs (consultants, nurses and pharmacists) from five hospitals in the West Midlands were interviewed.

Australia’s PBAC recommends substitution of adalimumab biosimilars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 08/02/2019

Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) has recommended that the adalimumab biosimilars Amgevita and Hadlima ‘should be treated as equivalent’ to the brand-name biological Humira on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Tanvex BioPharma submits filgrastim biosimilar to Health Canada

Biosimilars/News | Posted 01/02/2019

Taiwan-based biosimilars developer Tanvex BioPharma (Tanvex) announced on 16 January 2019 that it had submitted a biosimilar application to Health Canada for its proposed filgrastim biosimilar TX01.

Liability chain of biosimilar switching

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 01/02/2019

When an adverse event to a medicinal product, or a loss of efficacy, is experienced by a patient, the liability chain may potentially involve both the manufacturer and/or Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) (products liability) and the healthcare professionals responsible for prescribing, dispensing and/or administrating (professional liability) the medicine.

FDA approves trastuzumab biosimilar Herzuma

Biosimilars/News | Posted 01/02/2019

On 14 December 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the trastuzumab biosimilar, Herzuma (trastuzumab-pkrb), for the treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing breast cancer.

Adalimumab biosimilar Imraldi makes waves in Europe

Biosimilars/General | Posted 01/02/2019

Korean biosimilars maker Samsung Bioepis has gained more than 60% of the adalimumab market in Germany for its adalimumab biosimilar, Imraldi. But it’s not just Imraldi and not just in Germany, the company’s accumulated sales for three of its biosimilars in Europe reached US$545.2 million in 2018.

Biosimilars - to switch or not to switch

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 25/01/2019

Authors Marc Scherlinger and Thierry Schaeverbeke commented on the paper from Glintborg and co-authors ‘To switch or not to switch’ ,which reported the results of biosimilar etanercept switching in Denmark [1].

FDA approves trastuzumab biosimilar Ontruzant

Biosimilars/News | Posted 25/01/2019

On 18 January 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the trastuzumab biosimilar, Ontruzant (trastuzumab-dttb), for the treatment of patients with breast and gastric cancer.