Biosimilars/General

Innovative direct purchase agreement sees adalimumab biosimilar prices slashed

Biosimilars/General | Posted 15/10/2024

On 1 October 2024, Blue Shield of California in the US announced that it will pay far less for an adalimumab biosimilar. The transparent net price paid by the health plan provider will be US$525 per monthly dose, compared to the market-reported net price of reference product Humira at US$2,100.

Stelara biosimilar available at US$0 for Accredo patients

Biosimilars/General | Posted 08/10/2024

On 5 September 2024, Evernorth Health Services in the US announced that a biosimilar of Johnson and Johnson’s Stelara (ustekinumab) will be available for US$0 out of pocket for eligible patients of its specialty pharmacy, Accredo.

Ten best-selling biosimilars in Brazil in 2023

Biosimilars/General | Posted 01/10/2024

Biosimilars experienced a notable increase in sales during 2023, according to a study published by the Brazilian Association of Generic and Biosimilar Drug Industries (PróGenéricos). The data reveal that about 892,000 units of biosimilars were sold, representing a 43% growth compared to 2022.

International biosimilars players expanding their presence in China

Biosimilars/General | Posted 18/09/2024

The market for copy biologicals in China has significantly grown over the past decade. By early 2022, over 60 pharmaceutical companies were involved in the development of copy biological products [1].

Boehringer and GoodRx make Humira biosimilar available at 92% discount

Biosimilars/General | Posted 10/09/2024

On 18 July 2024, it was announced that Boehringer Ingelheim (Boehringer) and GoodRx, the leading prescription savings platform in the US, launched a patient affordability initiative. From now on, Boehringer's citrate-free adalimumab-adbm, a biosimilar to Humira (adalimumab), will be available at a 92% discount to the list price of the AbbVie originator drug, exclusively on GoodRx.

Biosimilars approved in Canada

Biosimilars/General | Posted 31/01/2014

Last update: 6 August  2024

In Canada, the regulatory body for the approval of biologicals is the Biologics and Genetic Therapies Directorate (BGTD) of the Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB) of Health Canada.

Humira's resilience in the face of biosimilar competition

Biosimilars/General | Posted 30/07/2024

AbbVie’s Humira (adalimumab) has retained more than 80% of patients in the last year (Q3/2023 to Q2/2024), despite the availability of nine lower-priced rival products available in the US. This raises questions among drug pricing experts and analysts about whether the market for prescription biosimilars can survive in its current form.

Biosimilars approved in the US

Biosimilars/General | Posted 14/08/2015

Last update: 23 July 2024

In the US, a legal framework for approving biosimilars was established in 2009, via the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (BPCI Act).

Biosimilars approved in Europe

Biosimilars/General | Posted 08/07/2011

Last update: 16 July 2024

In the European Union (EU), a legal framework for approving biosimilars was established in 2003. This framework means that biosimilars can only be approved centrally via the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and not nationally.

Boehringer Ingelheim to expand access to adalimumab biosimilar

Biosimilars/General | Posted 03/07/2024

On 13 May 2024, Boehringer Ingelheim (Boehringer) announced an agreement with Quallent Pharmaceuticals, a private label pharmaceutical distributor, to help expand patient access to citrate-free adalimumab-adbm, Boehringer’s biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira (adalimumab) in the US.