Biosimilars/General
Biosimilars of somatropin
Somatropin or human growth hormone (hGH) is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and cell regeneration in humans and other animals. It is thus important in human development. It is a type of mitogen which is specific only to certain kinds of cells. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored and secreted by somatotropic cells within the lateral wings of the anterior pituitary gland.
Biosimilars of pertuzumab
Pertuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the dimerization of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) with other HER receptors, which prevents them from signalling in ways that promote cell growth and proliferation.
Samsung Bioepis invalidates Herceptin patent in Korea
Samsung Bioepis has won a patent invalidation suit against Roche’s Herceptin in Korea.
Celltrion wins biosimilar deals and Duopharma increases focus on biosimilars in SE Asia
Celltrion Healthcare (Celltrion) has won tenders to supply infliximab to Singapore and rituximab to Thailand, while CCM Duopharma Biotech Bhd (CCMD) aims to increase revenue contribution from its biosimilar products from 22% to over 25%.
Pfizer drops five preclinical biosimilar programmes
US pharma giant Pfizer confirmed on 15 January 2019 that it had terminated five of its preclinical biosimilar programmes after looking at the results of the company’s annual investment review.
Green Shield Canada’s biosimilar switch pilot a success
Canadian not-for-profit healthcare benefits specialist, Green Shield Canada (GSC), announced in December 2018 that its biosimilar transition pilot had been successfully completed.
Alteogen wins process patent for aflibercept biosimilar
South Korean biologicals company Alteogen announced on 4 January 2019 that it had been granted a process patent for its method of producing an aflibercept biosimilar, ALT‑L9, referencing Regeneron’s blockbuster drug Eylea (aflibercept). The patent is a novel method for producing the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) fusion protein.
Adalimumab biosimilar Imraldi makes waves in Europe
Korean biosimilars maker Samsung Bioepis has gained more than 60% of the adalimumab market in Germany for its adalimumab biosimilar, Imraldi. But it’s not just Imraldi and not just in Germany, the company’s accumulated sales for three of its biosimilars in Europe reached US$545.2 million in 2018.
Celltrion wins patent suit in Japan over trastuzumab biosimilar
South Korean biotechnology company Celltrion announced on 5 November 2018 that it had won a patent suit in Japan involving its trastuzumab biosimilar, Herzuma (CT‑P6)
Biosimilars makers in Canada to launch patient support programme
Biosimilars Canada, an association representing Canada’s biosimilar makers, announced on 22 November 2018 that it had chosen pharmaceutical service provider Innomar Strategies to be the preferred provider for the association’s Patient Support Program (PSP) platform.
