The originator product, Amgen’s Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa), was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2001 and by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in August 2001 [1]. Amgen co-developed the product with Japan-based Kyowa Hakko Kirin, which sells the drug in Japan and other Asian countries as Nesp. Aranesp had sales of US$2.1 billion in 2016, despite the presence of biosimilars, see Table 1.

The patents on Aranesp will expire in the US in May 2024 and expired in Europe in July 2016 [1]. Despite patent protection, biosimilar competitors have been on the market in Europe since 2007. Some of the darbepoetin alfa biosimilars and non-originator biologicals* approved or in development are presented in Table 1.

In Japan, darbepoetin alfa biosimilars from Kyowa Hakko Kirin (Darbepoetin alfa injection syringe [KKF]) [9] and Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical (CKD‑11101) [4] were approved in August and December 2018, respectively.

On 18 September 2020, Taiwan-based Lotus Pharmaceutical Co (Lotus) announced a long-term collaboration with Korea-based Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp (CKD) for the distribution of biosimilar darbepoetin alfa (CKD-1110) in South East Asia [5].

Editor’s comment
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 ‘similar biologics’ approved in India might not have been authorized if they had been subjected to the strict regulatory processes required for approval of biosimilars in the EU.

Related article
Biosimilars of epoetin alfa

References
1.   Derbyshire M. Patent expiry dates for biologicals: 2018 update. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal (GaBI Journal). 2019;8(1):24-31. doi:10.5639/gabij.2019.0801.003
2.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Avesthagen and Elpen make deal for biosimilar darbepoetin alfa [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Aug 1]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Avesthagen-and-Elpen-make-deal-for-biosimilar-darbepoetin-alfa
3.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Darbepoetin alfa ‘similar biologic’ launched in India [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Aug 1]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Darbepoetin-alfa-similar-biologic-launched-in-India
4.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. CKD Pharma’s darbepoetin alfa biosimilar launched in Japan [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Nov 20]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/CKD-Pharma-s-darbepoetin-alfa-biosimilar-launched-in-Japan 
5.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Lotus to distribute CKD’s biosimilar darbepoetin alfa in South East Asia [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Nov 20]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Pharma-News/Lotus-to-distribute-CKD-s-biosimilar-darbepoetin-alfa-in-South-East-Asia  
6.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Two darbepoetin alfa biosimilars submitted to Japan’s PMDA [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2019 Feb 1]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Two-darbepoetin-alfa-biosimilars-submitted-to-Japan-s-PMDA 
7.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. ‘Similar biologics’ approved and marketed in India [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Aug 1]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Similar-biologics-approved-and-marketed-in-India
8.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Kissei/JCR’s darbepoetin alfa biosimilar shows equivalent safety and efficacy [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2018 Mar 9]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/Research/Kissei-JCR-s-darbepoetin-alfa-biosimilar-shows-equivalent-safety-and-efficacy
9.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Japan approves first darbepoetin alfa biosimilar [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2019 Feb 1]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Japan-approves-first-darbepoetin-alfa-biosimilar
10.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars’ hurdles in the US [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Aug 1]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-hurdles-in-the-US 

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