The company announced the launch of Biosimilars Clarified (www.merckclarifiesbiosimilars.com) on 14 October 2016. According to Merck, the website will discuss commonly asked information about biosimilars and is designed to provide clear, concise and straightforward information about biosimilars.

The website ‘offers a host of informative features in a simple, easy-to-use question-and-answer format’, covering topics including:
• What are biological medicines
• Biosimilars – are they safe and effective
• The value of biosimilars and increasing access to treatment
• The availability of support programmes for patients taking biosimilars

Merck has a biosimilars development and commercialization agreement in place with Samsung Bioepis (Samsung and Biogen’s joint venture) through which it has six biosimilars programmes either in phase III development or approved (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, insulin glargine, trastuzumab [1] and bevacizumab) in Merck licensed territories. Product approvals in Merck territories include Brenzys (etanercept) in South Korea, Australia and Canada [2] and Renflexis (infliximab) in South Korea [3]. 

Related articles
EMA accepts application for trastuzumab biosimilar

Biosimilars of insulin glargine

References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Merck outlines biosimilars programme [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2016 Oct 21]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Merck-outlines-biosimilars-programme
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars of etanercept [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2016 Oct 21]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-of-etanercept
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars of infliximab [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2016 Oct 21]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-of-infliximab

Permission granted to reproduce for personal and non-commercial use only. All other reproduction, copy or reprinting of all or part of any ‘Content’ found on this website is strictly prohibited without the prior consent of the publisher. Contact the publisher to obtain permission before redistributing.

Copyright – Unless otherwise stated all contents of this website are © 2016 Pro Pharma Communications International. All Rights Reserved.