Biosimilars
American Academy of Ophthalmology biosimilars position statement published
The American Academy of Ophthalmology issued a policy statement on the use of biosimilars in ophthalmic practice in January 2022 [1].
Canada approves five biosimilars in last seven months
Since November 2021, Canada’s drug regulator, Health Canada, has approved no less than five biosimilars for the treatment of diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and autoimmune conditions.
Successful increase of biosimilar adoption in a large integrated health delivery network
Biologicals have revolutionized patient care across several therapeutic areas but are associated with significantly higher costs to patients and healthcare systems. Biosimilars offer the opportunity to reduce drug spending without compromising patient care. Medication utilization management (UM), a formulary management methodology, can be used to facilitate the adoption of biosimilars. Author Sophia Humphreys describes an innovative and strategic biosimilar adoption programme that was developed and implemented at Providence St Joseph Health [1]. Providence is a large integrated health system including 53 hospitals, 1,085 clinics and an annual drug spend of >US$1.2 billion.
US prescription drug expenditure projection report
United States expenditure on pharmaceuticals was up in 2021, finds a report published in American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy [1]. It also highlights that increased uptake of biosimilars is allowing for healthcare savings yet overall spending on drugs in the US will increase by up to 6% in 2022.
Lucentis biosimilars approved in the UK and Korea
The United Kingdom’s (UK) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety have approved biosimilar versions of Genentech’s ophthalmology drug, Lucentis (ranibizumab).
Patient perspectives on biosimilars in a high uptake country
Several surveys have shown that challenges for patient acceptance of biosimilars include patients’ concerns of quality, safety, and efficacy [1-3], however, there has been lacking more in-depth knowledge of the patient perspective and the underlying rationales for such perspective. Therefore and considering Denmark has one of the highest biosimilar uptakes [4], Varma et al. [5] investigated how Danish patients with psoriasis, arthritic diseases, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) perceived biosimilars.
Biosimilar adoption and prescribing in Japan: a physician opinion survey
Japanese physicians regularly request information on quality, efficacy, safety and cost burden to the patient when adopting or prescribing biosimilars, demonstrates a recent survey [1]. Higher biosimilars uptake may be achievable if such information was made more accessible and digestible.
New adalimumab biosimilars prepare to launch in Canada, US and Europe
Several new adalimumab biosimilar products are preparing to launch in Canada, the US and Europe, from manufacturers including BIOJAMP, Alvotech and Celltrion.
Innovent and Eli Lilly announce final results for sintilimab plus biosimilar bevacizumab injection
Innovent and Eli Lilly have announced final clinical results for their sintilimab plus bevacizumab biosimilar injection, which has been accepted by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).
FDA approves Amneal’s bevacizumab biosimilar
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Amneal Pharmaceuticals’ (Amneal) bevacizumab biosimilar, Alymsys, the third bevacizumab biosimilar to be approved in the US.
