Biosimilars/News
Views on biosimilars: Genentech
Genentech has put a clear position on biosimilars on its website. The company explains that the terms ‘biosimilar’ or ‘follow-on biologic’ refer to products that are marketed after expiration of patents, which are claimed to have similar properties to existing biological products. Due to the complexity of biologicals, a product can only be made that is similar, but not identical.
BIO wants to delay biodissimilars as long as possible
Biotech drugs are big revenue earners. Their sales growth rate may have slipped back into single figures last year, but according to IMS Health data they still accounted for more than 37% of the growth in the US pharmaceutical market last year, with revenues of around US$85 billion (Euros 60.8 billion), and biotech stands to take an even larger share of the market in future.
Biosimilar substitution: Listen to all lobbyists
In December 2007 a British parliamentary review was conducted on the issue of biosimilars. At a British meeting it was told that “automatic substitution rules do not apply to biologicals.” The recommendation of the panel was that “there should be an urgent ban on the substitution of biopharmaceuticals in the UK until effective safeguards can be relied upon.”
High yields and human-like glycosylation with DSM’s technology
DSM says that studies done at its R & D laboratories in Groningen, The Netherlands, show that its extreme density (XD) technology boosts bioreactor productivity and titers of mammalian cell culture processes for protein and antibody production. The studies show that the yields from Chinese hamster ovary cell cultures can be increased 5-10 fold over their previous fed-batch processes using only off the shelf, commercially available media.
New expression systems create competitive advantage
New, alternative expression systems in various stages of development are showing their viability in large-scale protein manufacture. The economics and increased simplicity of these new platforms make them better alternatives to the currently dominant E. coli, yeast and CHO systems.
Indian Reliance Life Sciences to launch four more biosimilars by next year
Reliance Life Sciences, based in Mumbai, India, announced on 29 March 2009 in the Indian Business Standard that it will launch four biosimilars by next year.
Obama wants to introduce US biosimilars pathway
US President Barack Obama plans to fund part of his healthcare reform plans by backing an approval pathway for generic biologicals. As reported by Christopher Spillane in Scrip News, Mr Obama lobbied the American Medical Association to support proposals to overhaul US healthcare in a far-reaching address.
Second US biosimilars bill introduced: 12 instead of five years market exclusivity
On 17 March 2009, US Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (Democrat of California, USA) introduced a second biosimilars bill in the House that will compete with the bill introduced a week ago by US Congressman Henry Waxman, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Both bills would create the first US approval pathway for follow-on biologics. The bills differ in areas such as length of exclusivity for innovators and the need for guidance documents.
Indian firms may well take large slice of global biosimilars pie
Since the Indian government announced that it wants to make almost US$70 million (Euros 49.7 million) in funding available for the development of biosimilar medicines, Indian generics firms adapt their strategies and plan to go abroad. The proposed US$68 million (Euros 48.3 million) in funding just announced by India's Department of Biotechnology would be offered through the Biotech Industry Partnership Programme, with soft loans being available for biosimilar development at an interest rate of about 2%.
Third US biosimilars bill introduced: five years market exclusivity with user fee
On 26 March 2009 a third biosimilars bill was introduced in the US by Senators Chuck Schumer, Sherrod Brown, Jeanne Shaheen and Debbie Stabenow, Susan Collins, Mel Martinez and David Vitter. The bipartisan plan would give branded biologicals five years of market exclusivity, up to an additional three years to cover modifications, claiming this will give patients quicker access to cheaper drugs.
