Biosimilars
Biosimilars and the role of regulatory authorities
According to authors Hye-Na Kang and Ivana Knezevic, from the World Health Organization (WHO), market access to biosimilars can be restricted by several factors [1]:
(i) manufacturing processes may be expensive and complex
(ii) patents on the manufacturing processes of the original product may not have expired
(iii) biosimilar manufacturers may have limited access to data on the original product
(iv) appropriate regulatory frameworks may not be in place
(v) government policies on switching to biosimilars, pricing and reimbursement may be lacking.
Celltrion resubmits biosimilar trastuzumab to FDA
South Korean biotechnology company Celltrion announced on 18 June 2018 that it had resubmitted its application for marketing approval for its candidate trastuzumab biosimilar, CT‑P6, to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of adalimumab biosimilar BI 695501
Adalimumab is the most commonly prescribed biological and is approved for rheumatoid arthritis as well as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, along with Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. Its patent life terminated in 2016 in the US [1]. However, in the US AbbVie has stated that, although the composition of matter patent covering Humira expired in December 2016, non-composition of matter patents covering Humira expire no earlier than 2022. The company has therefore made settlement agreements with Amgen and Samsung Bioepis, delaying the launch of biosimilars until January 2023 [2, 3].
Spanish associations sign biosimilars collaboration
The Spanish Association of Biosimilar Medicines (BioSim) announced on 21 March 2018 that BioSim and the Federation of Spanish Medical Scientific Associations (FACME) have signed a collaboration agreement that includes the creation of a joint working group to share up-to-date information on biosimilars.
Life cycle and regulatory evaluation of biosimilars
The life cycle of a biosimilar, like any biological, starts with research and development, then manufacturing, and is followed by regulatory evaluation of quality, safety and efficacy for both licensing and post-licensing oversight. Once licensed, a biosimilar is an individual product and post-licensing evaluation should be carried out like any other biological. The only difference for a biosimilar is that regulatory approval relies on the safety and efficacy data and knowledge gained during the development and licensing of an originator, or reference product.
Etanercept biosimilars submitted to EMA and launched in Japan
An etanercept biosimilar has been submitted to the authorities in Europe and Japan, and another etanercept biosimilar has been launched in Japan.
WuXi Biologics expands its biologicals manufacturing facilities
China-based WuXi Biologics, headquartered in Wuxi city of Jiangsu Province, is expanding its biologicals manufacturing capacity with new facilities planned in Ireland, China, Singapore and the US.
Regulating biosimilars throughout their life cycle
A resolution to increase access to life-saving biologicals was passed in May 2014 at the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) [1]. However, there still exist barriers to market access for biosimilars. Authors Drs Hye-Na Kang and Ivana Knezevic, from WHO, discuss the factors that give rise to these barriers and explain the importance of regulatory oversight throughout the product life-cycle of biosimilars [2].
EMA approves adalimumab and trastuzumab biosimilars
The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 1 June 2018 that it had recommended granting marketing authorization for the adalimumab biosimilars Halimatoz, Hefiya and Hyrimoz, and also for the trastuzumab biosimilar Trazimera.
FDA approval for pegfilgrastim biosimilar Fulphila
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on 4 June 2018 that it had approved its first pegfilgrastim biosimilar.
