Biosimilars approved in Peru

Biosimilars/General | Posted 01/10/2021 post-comment0 Post your comment

In Peru, the regulatory body responsible for approving biological drugs is the General Directorate of Medicines, Supplies and Drugs (DIGEMID) of the Peruvian Ministry of Health (MINSA) which is in charge of leading the National and Decentralised Health System, the policy for the universal health assurance and the policies and intersectoral actions on social determinants [1].

DIGEMID V21J01

DIGEMID is the line organisation of MINSA, under the Vice Ministry of Public Health, which constitutes the the National Authority of Pharmaceutical Products, Medical Devices and Health Products referred to under Law No. 29459, Law of Pharmaceutical Products, Medical Devices and Health Products. It is the technical standard authority at national and sectorial level, responsible for proposing regulations and standards within its scope, as well as evaluating, executing, controlling, supervising, monitoring, auditing, certifying and accrediting in matters related to the provisions of Law N° 29459.

It has four organizational units: 1) Directorate of Pharmaceutical Products; 2) Directorate of Medical Devices and Health Products; 3) Directorate of Inspection and Certification; and 4) Directorate of Pharmacovigilance, Access and Use.

In 2016, DIGEMID finalized the guidelines for biological products opting for the similarity route.

MINSA defines a biosimilar drug as a biological product, which in terms of quality, safety and efficacy, is similar to a reference biological product (RBP).

The first biosimilar to receive approval in Peru was Celltrion’s monoclonal antibody Flixceli (infliximab) in 2016.

To date, MINSA has approved two biosimilar monoclonal antibodies [2] for use in Peru, see Table 1.

Tabla 1: Biosimilars approved by MINSA
Product name Active substance Therapeutic area Authorization date Manufacturer/ Company name
Clotinab abciximab Anticoagulant Not available ISU Abxix Co, Ltd
Flixeli infliximab Psoriatic arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn's disease
Ankylosing spondylitis psoriasis
2016 Celltrion/Lab AC FARMA
Data updated on 1 October 2021.
Source: DIGEMID, MINSA

 

Two biomimics of rituximab are also authorized in Peru:
1. Kikuzubam for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
2. Reditux/Tidecron for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukaemia.

Biomimics are intended copies, unregulated biologicals, biocopies, which cannot be considered biosimilars unless they have been reviewed and approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies in accordance with the international guidelines provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the approval of biosimilars [3].

Editor's comments
European Medicines Agency regulatory requirements ensure the same high standards of quality, safety, and efficacy for biosimilars as for originator biologicals, and also include a rigorous comparability exercise with the reference product but they are not universally accepted by regulatory bodies outside of the European Union (EU). It should be noted that ‘biosimilars’ approved in Peru might not have been authorized if they had been subjected to the strict regulatory processes required for approval of biosimilars in the EU.

Related articles
The biosimilars market in Latin America: a summary

Similar biotherapeutic products approved and marketed in Latin America

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 this week’s headline article: Política de sustitución de biosimilares de Canadá: efectos sobre la competencia y seguridad del paciente

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.

LATIN AMERICAN FORUM

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.

Vea el artículo principal de esta semana: Política de sustitución de biosimilares de Canadá: efectos sobre la competencia y seguridad del paciente

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. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Peru issues decree for the registration of medicines and biological products [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Oct 1]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/guidelines/peru-issues-decree-for-the-registration-of-medicines-and-biological-products 
2. Ortiz-Prado E, Ponce-Zea J, Vasconez JE, et al. Current trends for biosimilars in the Latin American market. Generics Biosimilars Initiative Journal (GaBI Journal). 2020;9(2):64-74. doi:10.5639/gabij.2020.0902.011
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Glosario de términos principales [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Oct 1]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/glosario-de-terminos-principales

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 © 2021 Pro Pharma Communications International. All Rights Reserved.

Source: DIGEMID, MINSA

comment icon Comments (0)
Post your comment
Most viewed articles
About GaBI
Home/About GaBI Posted 06/08/2009
EU guidelines for biosimilars
EMA logo 1 V13C15
Home/Guidelines Posted 08/10/2010