Biosimilars/Research
Phase I results for candidate adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab biosimilars
Results of phase I clinical studies of candidate adalimumab biosimilar SB5, etanercept biosimilar SB4 and infliximab biosimilar SB2, demonstrated equivalence safety profiles to their originator biologicals in healthy subjects [1-3].
Monoclonal antibodies and the challenge of substitution
Healthcare payers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of biosimilar competition in the innovative monoclonal antibody sector in order to drive down drug prices and increase patients’ access to these medicines. As the first to introduce scientific and regulatory requirements for the approval of biosimilars in 2004, the European Union (EU) has emerged as a testing ground for biosimilars. In view of the lack of stance of EU governments and national institutions on substitution for biosimilars, hospitals and healthcare structures logically took up this major issue.
Biosimilars: the clinical perspective
How biosimilars can be viewed from a clinical perspective was discussed in a review of biosimilars in rheumatology by author José M Serra López-Matencio and colleagues from the Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain*.
Biosimilars: management of clinical issues
How to manage clinical issues encountered with biosimilars was a topic discussed in a review of biosimilars in rheumatology by author José M Serra López-Matencio and colleagues from the Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain*.
Biosimilars: a new challenge in the current pharmacology
In a review of biosimilars in rheumatology author José M Serra López-Matencio and colleagues from the Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain discuss issues surrounding biosimilars*.
Pharmacovigilance for mAbs
Professor Pierre Michetti, a gastroenterologist at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland in his paper discusses questions related to monoclonal antibody (mAb) biosimilars [1]. One question addressed was that of pharmacovigilance for mAbs.
Beyond biosimilarity
The advent of monoclonal antibody (mAb) biosimilars has raised a series of questions in the healthcare community. Just a few of these questions were discussed by Professor Pierre Michetti, a gastroenterologist at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland [1].
Efficacy and safety of biosimilar infliximab compared to other biologicals in rheumatoid arthritis
In the paper by Baji et al. [1], the authors carried out a meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of biosimilar infliximab and other available biologicals for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), namely abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, rituximab and tocilizumab. The analysis compared the recommended doses of biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) indicated in RA.
Switching and extrapolation of subsequent entry biologics in Canada
The regulatory framework for biosimilars in Canada explains how their substitutability and/or interchangeability are governed in the country. Biosimilars, which are known as subsequent entry biologics (SEBs) in Canada, are regulated in line with guidance from the World Health Organization.
Efficacy, extrapolation and interchangeability of biosimilars
Biosimilars have been available in Europe for more than seven years; despite this fact, physicians still have concerns about the use of biosimilars. Some of their concerns have been discussed by members and experts of the Working Party on Similar Biologic Medicinal Products of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) [1].
