On 31 October 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Wezlana (ustekinumab-auub) as a biosimilar to and interchangeable with Stelara (ustekinumab) for multiple inflammatory diseases.
Wezlana has been developed by Amgen and is the first approved biosimilar of Stelara in the US.
Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) patents for Stelara expired in the US in September 2023 and are set to expire in Europe in January 2024 [1]. There are several ustekinumab biosimilars in development by companies like Alvotech, Celltrion, Fomycon and Dong A ST.
Early in 2023, Amgen and J&J reached an agreement to delay its projected launch date for Wezlana from late 2023 to ‘no later than 1 January 2025’ [2]. Similar agreements have been set up between J&J and other companies developing biosimilars of ustekinumab [3].
The interchangeability designation will allow for Wezlana to substitute for Stelara at the pharmacy level without requiring a pharmacist to get permission from a provider first [4]. Wezlana is the seventh biosimilar in the US to be given this designation, following Abrilada (adalimumab-afzb), Byooviz (ranibizumab-runa), Cimerli (ranibizumab-eqrn), Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm), Rezvoglar (insulin glargine-aglr), and Semglee (insulin glargine-yfgn).
The interchangeability designation is designed to increase access to the biosimilar and convenience for patients.
Ustekinumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that interferes with the triggering of the body’s inflammatory response through the suppression of certain cytokines. Specifically, it blocks interleukin IL 12 and IL 23 which help activate certain T cells. It binds to the p 40 subunit of both IL 12 and IL 23 so that they subsequently cannot bind to their receptors. It is indicated for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis [5].
On 25 September 2023, Alvotech’s AVT04 became the first ustekinumab biosimilar to be approved in Japan. In February 2023, the European Medicines Agency has accepted the Marketing Authorization Application for AVT04, and in the summer of 2023, CuraTeQ Biologics has entered into an exclusive license agreement to commercialize BFI-751, BioFactura’s proposed biosimilar ustekinumab.
Related articles
US Senate clarifies status of interchangeable biosimilar exclusivity
Biosimilars approved in the US
|
LATIN AMERICAN FORUM
The new section of the ‘Latin American Forum’ on GaBI has been launched. The objective of this new section is to provide you with all the latest news and updates on developments of generic and biosimilar medicines in Latin America in Spanish. View the latest headline article: Avances en la disponibilidad de medicamentos innovadores en México Browse the news in the Latin American Forum! Register to receive the GaBI Latin American Forum newsletter. Inform colleagues and friends of this new initiative.
FORO LATINOAMERICANO
Se ha lanzado la nueva sección del ‘Foro Latinoamericano’ sobre GaBI. El objetivo de esta nueva sección es brindarle las últimas noticias y actualizaciones sobre desarrollos de medicamentos genéricos y biosimilares en América Latina en español. Ver el último artículo de cabecera: Avances en la disponibilidad de medicamentos innovadores en México !Explore las noticias en el Foro Latinoamericano! Regístrese para recibir el boletín informativo GaBI Foro Latinoamericano. Informe a colegas y amigos sobre esta nueva iniciativa.
|
References
1. Derbyshire M. Patent expiry dates for biologicals: 2018 update. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal (GaBI Journal). 2019;8(1):24-31. doi:10.5639/gabij.2019.0801.003
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. J&J lawsuits settled over ustekinumab biosimilars [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Nov 7]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/pharma-news/j-j-lawsuits-settled-over-ustekinumab-biosimilars
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Fresenius Kabi and Formycon reach agreement with J&J, Alvotech and Teva expand partnership [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Nov 7]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/pharma-news/fresenius-kabi-and-formycon-reach-agreement-with-j-j-alvotech-and-teva-expand-partnership
4. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. FDA releases new information on interchangeable biologicals [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Nov 7]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/FDA-releases-new-information-on-interchangeable-biologicals
5. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars of ustekinumab [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2023 Nov 7]. Available from:
www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/biosimilars-of-ustekinumab
Permission granted to reproduce for personal and non-commercial use only. All other reproduction, copy or reprinting of all or part of any ‘Content’ found on this website is strictly prohibited without the prior consent of the publisher. Contact the publisher to obtain permission before redistributing.
Copyright – Unless otherwise stated all contents of this website are © 2023 Pro Pharma Communications International. All Rights Reserved.
0
Post your comment