Biosimilars/News

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 10/08/2023

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.

Alkem launches first cetuximab similar biologic in India

Biosimilars/News | Posted 13/06/2023

In May 2023, Alkem Oncology announced the launch of Cetuxa, the fist similar biologic of cetuximab used in the treatment of head and neck cancer. The cetuximab originator was developed by Merck and is sold under the brand name Erbitux.

EMA recommends approval of eculizumab biosimilar Epysqli

Biosimilars/News | Posted 30/05/2023

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 31 March 2023 that it had adopted a positive opinion for Epysqli.

Advances for STADA-Xbrane’s Ximluci in Europe, the UK and the US

Biosimilars/News | Posted 04/05/2023

The STADA and Xbrane co-developed Ximluci, ranibizumab biosimilar is to launch in Europe and will now also be available on the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). In addition, the partners have submitted their Biologics License Application (BLA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

US and EC approvals for Hyrimoz, US approval for Udenyca autoinjector

Biosimilars/News | Posted 14/04/2023

In March 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Sandoz’s Hyrimoz biosimilar, a citrate-free high-concentration formulation (HCF) of adalimumab, as well as Coherus Biosciences’ (Coherus) innovative single-dose, prefilled autoinjector presentation of Udenyca (pegfilgrastim-cbqv).

Biosimilar launches in Canada and US: Byooviz and Stimufend

Biosimilars/News | Posted 31/03/2023

In Canada, Biogen announced that their Byooviz (ranibizumab) injection, a biosimilar of Lucentis, is available as of March 2023. In the preceding month, Fresenius Kabi launched Stimufend (pegfilgrastim-fpgk), a biosimilar of Amgen’s Neulasta, in the US.

EMA recommends approval of eculizumab biosimilar Bekemv

Biosimilars/News | Posted 23/03/2023

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 24 February 2023 that it had recommended granting of marketing authorization for the eculizumab biosimilar Bekemv.

China approves tocilizumab copy biological BAT1806

Biosimilars/News | Posted 16/03/2023

In January 2023, Bio-Thera Solutions announced that the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approved BAT1806, a biosimilar of Actemra (tocilizumab), in China. This is the world’s first tocilizumab copy biological/biosimilar to be approved.

FDA accepts application for denosumab biosimilar GP2411

Biosimilars/News | Posted 09/03/2023

Sandoz, the generics division of Novartis, announced on 6 February 2023 that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its Biologics License Application (BLA) for a proposed denosumab biosimilar (GP2411).

EMA accepts application for ustekinumab biosimilar AVT04

Biosimilars/News | Posted 03/03/2023

Alvotech announced on 9 February 2023 that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted a Marketing Authorization Application for AVT04, their proposed biosimilar to Stelara (ustekinumab).

Ranibizumab biosimilar Ximluci and Amelivu to launch in the UK and South Korea

Biosimilars/News | Posted 24/02/2023

STADA and Xbrane Biopharma have announced that the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has granted a marketing authorization for Ximluci, a biosimilar referencing ophthalmology drug, Lucentis (ranibizumab). In addition, Samsung Bioepis and Samil Pharmaceuticals will launch their biosimilar of Lucentis, Amelivu, in South Korea.

New indication for Cosentyx (secukinumab) biological: hidradenitis suppurativa

Biosimilars/News | Posted 19/05/2023

The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use adopted a positive opinion on 26 April 2023 recommending Novartis' Cosentyx (secukinumab) to treat active moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in adults. 

Advances for Henlius’ trastuzumab and bevacizumab biosimilars in the US

Biosimilars/News | Posted 20/04/2023

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted Henlius' application for HLX02 (biosimilar trastuzumab for injection). Meanwhile, Henlius' multicentre phase III clinical trial (NCT04740671) of HLX04-O (biosimilar bevacizumab) for wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) commenced in the US with the first patient dosed.

First African developed biosimilar adalimumab starts phase I trial in Germany

Biosimilars/News | Posted 06/04/2023

A phase I clinical trial of Minapharm Pharmaceuticals’ first African developed adalimumab biosimilar, Adessia, was initiated on 24 February 2023 in Germany with results to be expected at the end of 2023.

Bevacizumab biosimilar Vegzelma approved and Aybintio launched in Canada

Biosimilars/News | Posted 10/02/2023

The bevacizumab biosimilar Vegzelma produced by Celltrion received full label approval from Canada’s drug regulator, Health Canada (HC), on 3 January 2023. Back in November 2022, bevacizumab biosimilar Aybintio by Samsung Bioepis had been launched in Canada by Organon, offering a more affordable treatment for Canadian patients suffering from certain types of aggressive cancer.

Advances for Alvotech’s partnerships in Japan, Canada and Switzerland

Biosimilars/News | Posted 18/11/2022

In October 2022, Alvotech announced new advances with partners Fuji Pharma in Japan and JAMP in Canada. In addition, in September 2022, with its partner STADA, Alvotech announced the launch of Hukyndra, its high-concentration, low-volume, citrate-free formulation, biosimilar to Humira (adalimumab), in Switzerland.

Progress for Lucentis (ranibizumab) biosimilars in Europe and the US

Biosimilars/News | Posted 28/10/2022

On 16 September 2022, Partners Stada Arzneimittel and Xbrane Biopharma announced that the European Medicines Agency’S (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion for Ximluci, a biosimilar candidate referencing Lucentis (ranibizumab). In addition, on 19 September 2022 in the US, Coherus BioSciences announced that from 3 October 2022, another ranibizumab biosimilar, Cimerli (ranibizumab-eqrn) will be commercially available.