Biosimilars/News
Hospira marks five years of biosimilars
Self-proclaimed world leader in injectable drugs, Hospira, commemorated five years of providing biosimilars to the European market at the BIO International Convention in Chicago, USA, on 24 April 2013.
Celltrion stops phase III trial of biosimilar rituximab
South Korean biotechnology company Celltrion has stopped the late-stage trial of its biosimilar version of Roche’s blockbuster arthritis/non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma drug MabThera/Rituxan (rituximab).
Cipla launches first etanercept ‘similar biologic’ in India
India-based generics manufacturer Cipla announced on 17 April 2013 the launch of its ‘similar biologic’ product Etacept, the first ‘similar biologic’ of etanercept in India.
Lonza not backing out on biosimilars
Lonza has made a statement refuting reports that the Switzerland-based company was considering backing out of its biosimilars joint venture with Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Teva).
Amgen’s biosimilar plans
Amgen was one of the first companies to recognize the potential of modern biotechnology and this has made it the world’s largest independent biotechnology firm.
Lonza/Teva biosimilar pact in jeopardy
Switzerland-based API producer and custom manufacturing organization Lonza is reviewing whether it is still worth investing in its joint venture for biosimilars with Israeli generics giant Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (Teva).
Sandoz’s biosimilar rituximab on track
The development of a biosimilar version of Rituxan (rituximab) is proceeding as planned, Sandoz’s Global Head, Mr Jeff George told Bloomberg.
When will the US biosimilars pathway be used
FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg presented the latest statistics on the US biosimilar pathway during a speech at the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council’s (MassBio) Annual Meeting on 15 March 2013.
Greece says no to automatic substitution of biologicals
Greece’s Medicines Agency (National Organization for Medicines, Ethnikos Organismos Farmakon, EOF) released a document on 13 March 2013 recommending against automatic substitution/interchangeability of reference biologicals and their biosimilars.
Japan approves second biosimilar G-CSF
Japan has granted regulatory approval to a second biosimilar granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).
