Biosimilars/Research

Generics versus biosimilars: pricing and usage-enhancing policies

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 23/02/2018

In Europe, pricing and demand-side measures for generic medicines are widely implemented and have undergone evaluations [1-4]. However, when it comes to biosimilars, the policies implemented by European countries are less well known and explored.

Etanercept switching study investigates non-mandatory transitioning

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 23/02/2018

A study carried out by researchers from The Netherlands investigated whether non-mandatory transitioning from originator to biosimilar etanercept improves retention rates [1].

EBE reveals Europe’s biosimilar pricing and reimbursement policies landscape

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 15/02/2018

The first biosimilar was approved in the European Union (EU) in 2006. Since then, biosimilar policies have been developed with a focus on increasing biosimilar uptake. However, the extent to which EU Member State polices differentiate between biosimilars and generic medicines has been brought into question. The European Biopharmaceutical Enterprises (EBE) has conducted a second survey on pricing and reimbursement policies for off-patent biologicals to map the biosimilar policy landscape in Europe [1].

Quality and clinical performance of biopharmaceuticals

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 15/02/2018

A review carried out by researchers from Sandoz describes the inherent nature of biopharmaceutical heterogeneity and discusses modern quality systems and regulatory frameworks used to maintain biopharmaceutical quality and clinical performance [1].

Zarxio reveals all: the US biosimilars market

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 09/02/2018

Launched in 2015, Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz) was the first biosimilar to gain US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval [1]. It competes with Neupogen (its reference product), Granix and Neulasta, for a share of the neutropenia market. This approval came almost a decade after the 2006 launch of the first biosimilar in Europe. Following this, a new study has examined Zarxio’s first years’ performance in the US short-acting (SA) filgrastim market to identify key sales and marketing trends and their drivers [2].

The biosimilar landscape in Italy revealed

Biosimilars/Research | Posted 02/02/2018

In Italy, health services are run at the regional level. To date, there has been no systematic monitoring of the uptake of biosimilars at a national or regional level. As such, the biosimilar landscape in Italy has not been well understood. However, a recent paper now provides an overview of the available real-world data relating to the patterns of use and the comparative effectiveness of biosimilars and originator biological drugs in Italy [1].