Basaglar is a biosimilar of the PBS listed insulin glargine, Lantus, made by French drugmaker Sanofi. PBAC recommended the listing of insulin glargine Basaglar for the treatment of type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus on a cost-minimisation basis with Lantus. The biosimilar insulin glargine product is a basal (long-acting) insulin with the same amino acid sequence as Lantus. Basaglar is intended to provide long-lasting blood sugar control between meals and at night and will be available in a pre-filled pen and cartridges for a reusable pen.

PBAC also said it will consider marking the biosimilar as equivalent, i.e. ‘a’ flagging. Medicines deemed substitutable at a pharmacy level by PBAC include a notation in the official Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule known as an ‘a’ flag.

This marks a change in position of PBAC, which had previously not considered ‘a’ flagging biosimilars, stating that ‘The current practice of ‘a’ flagging in the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits, denoting that brand substitution may be undertaken by pharmacists at the point of dispensing, will not be applied to SBMPs [similar biological medicinal products, aka biosimilars] at this time unless a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) issued statement supportive of ‘a’ flagging is available’. And in fact it has even rejected ‘a’ flagging in the case of the filgrastim biosimilar, Nivestim [1].

Australia’s Generic Medicines Industry Association (GMiA) welcomed the announcement to list biosimilar insulin. GMiA CEO, Ms Belinda Wood said that the ‘GMiA welcomes the PBAC decision to consider the marking as equivalent, also known as “a” flagging, of biosimilars and their reference products on a case-by-case basis.’

Applying an ‘a’ flag would let pharmacists in Australia substitute a biosimilar for the reference biological in exactly the same way as generics are already substituted.

Eli Lilly also gained European approval in September 2014 for its biosimilar insulin glargine, which is called Abasaglar in Europe [2].

Related articles
Australia reviewing plans for naming biosimilars

Biosimilars approved in Australia

References
1.   Shaw B. Biosimilars naming and prescribing policy in Australia. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal (GaBI Journal). 2013;2(4):168-9. doi:10.5639/gabij.2013.0204.048
2.  GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars approved in Europe [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2015 May 22]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-approved-in-Europe 

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