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EMA recommends approval of adalimumab and insulin aspart biosimilars

Biosimilars/News | Posted 22/01/2021 0 Post your comment

The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) announced on 11 December 2020 that it had recommended granting marketing authorization for the adalimumab biosimilar Yuflyma and for the insulin aspart biosimilar Kixelle.

During the CHMP’s meeting of 7‒10 December 2020, the committee recommended that Yuflyma receive a positive opinion for the treatment of certain inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.

Yuflyma (CT-P17) is produced by Korea-based biotechnology company Celltrion Healthcare. The company submitted its application to EMA in March 2020 and included clinical data on all indications for the reference product Humira (adalimumab), including rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and psoriasis [1].

This is not the first adalimumab biosimilar to be approved in Europe. The European Commission (EC) has already approved 10 other adalimumab biosimilars [2]. However, if approved, Yuflyma would be the first adalimumab biosimilar with a high concentration (100 mg/mL) and citrate-free formulation, which is expected to produce less pain for patients during administration.

The CHMP has recommended that Kixelle (insulin aspart) be approved for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Kixelle is produced by US-based drugmaker Mylan and Indian biologicals specialist Biocon.

Kixelle, if approved, will be the second insulin aspart biosimilars to be approved in Europe. Insulin aspart Sanofi gained European approval in April 2020 [3].

The positive opinions by EMA’s CHMP will now be reviewed by the EC, which is expected to give final marketing approval within the next three months.

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References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Celltrion files application with EMA for adalimumab biosimilar [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Jan 22]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Celltrion-files-application-with-EMA-for-adalimumab-biosimilar
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars approved in Europe [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Jan 22]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-approved-in-Europe
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. EC approval for Sanofi’s insulin aspart biosimilar [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Jan 22]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/EC-approval-for-Sanofi-s-insulin-aspart-biosimilar

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Source: Celltrion, EMA