Biosimilars
Canada approves five adalimumab biosimilars in last six months
Since October 2020, Canada’s drug regulator, Health Canada, has approved no less than five adalimumab biosimilars for the treatment of multiple chronic inflammatory diseases.
Biosimilar pipelines for South Korean firms: Chong Kun Dang, DM Bio and HK inno.N
South Korea is becoming a more and more important spot on the map when it comes to biosimilars. Although Celltrion Healthcare (Celltrion) and Samsung Bioepis (Samsung and Biogen’s joint venture) are leading the way in Korea and worldwide, other Korean companies, such as Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical (Chong Kun Dang), DM Bio (joint venture between Dong-A ST and Meiji Holdings) and HK inno.N (previously CJ Healthcare), are also expanding their biosimilar pipelines.
Are regulatory and scientific reporting biosimilar QAs consistent and complimentary?
Questions have been raised regarding the consistency and complementarity of reporting biosimilar quality attributes between regulatory and scientific communities. For the first time, a study published in Biologicals [1] has found that while the reporting of quality attributes (QAs) by these two sources lacks consistency, overall, they do complement one another.
Approved biosimilars for South Korean firms: Celltrion and Samsung Bioepis
Korean companies, such as Celltrion Healthcare (Celltrion) and Samsung Bioepis (Samsung and Biogen’s joint venture), are becoming more and more important both in the country and worldwide when it comes to developing biosimilars.
Australia approves adalimumab biosimilar Abrilada
Australia’s regulatory agency, the Therapeutic Goods Agency (TGA), has approved the adalimumab biosimilar Abrilada (PF-06410293).
Role of European patient associations when informing patients about biosimilars
Biosimilars contribute to more sustainable healthcare systems by generating competition in the off-patent biologicals market. The extent to which the benefits of competition in the marketplace are exploited depends, of course, on their use in clinical practice. One of the factors determining adoption in clinical practice is the acceptance by healthcare providers (HCP) and patients. Often, a lack of acceptance comes down to shortcomings in knowledge and understanding about biosimilars. Educating patients about biosimilars is therefore considered as one of the key elements for a successful market for off-patent biologicals and biosimilars.
EC approves bevacizumab biosimilar Abevmy
On 26 April 2021, India-based biologicals specialist Biocon Biologics (Biocon) announced that its bevacizumab biosimilar, Abevmy (MYL 1402O), which it co-developed with US-based drugmaker Viatris (formerly Mylan), had received European Commission (EC) approval.
Canadian provinces expand their use of biosimilars
New Brunswick has become the third Canadian province to implement a biosimilar switching policy. The province of Alberta has also expanded its switching programme to include biosimilars of the anti-inflammatory treatment adalimumab (Humira).
Biosimilars for skin conditions safe and effective
Two recently published articles [1, 2] assessing the use of biosimilars for the long-term skin conditions psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa indicate that biosimilar treatments are equally as effective as the originator, demonstrating similar drug retention and clinical response rates, respectively.
Cost-savings from higher biosimilar uptake and more appropriate use of ESAs
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health issue worldwide. In Italy, the prevalence of CKD is 7.5% in men and 6.5% in women [1]. In Italy, the annual direct costs of management for patients on dialysis were estimated to be around €30,000 for peritoneal dialysis and €44,000 for haemodialysis [2]. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have a significant economic burden in CKD as they are widely used to treat CKD-related anaemia; biosimilars can guarantee a 20%–30% saving on ESA purchase costs in CKD patients [3].
