Biosimilars/Research
Sandoz starts phase III US trial for biosimilar epoetin alfa
Sandoz, the generic drug division of Swiss drug giant Novartis, announced on 25 October 2012 that it had started patient enrolment in a phase III clinical trial in the US for biosimilar epoetin alfa (Amgen/Johnson & Johnson’s Epogen/Procrit).
Pfizer carrying out biosimilar trastuzumab trial in US
Pharma giant Pfizer is carrying out a phase I trial in the US for a biosimilar version of trastuzumab.
Overview of research on biosimilarity/comparability and interchangeability of biosimilars 2012
Period: January to August 2012
After the patent on a biological medicine expires ‘similar’ versions of the originator biological can be produced. These biosimilars or ‘similar biological medicinal products’ are similar (but not identical) in terms of quality, safety and efficacy to an authorised reference biological medicine.
Boehringer Ingelheim completes biosimilar adalimumab trial
Biopharmaceutical specialist Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals (Boehringer Ingelheim) has completed its phase I trial for a biosimilar version of adalimumab.
Overview of research on safety and immunogenicity of biosimilars in 2012
Period: January to August 2012
Biosimilars or ‘biosimilar medicinal products’ are medicinal products that are similar (but not identical) in terms of quality, safety and efficacy to an authorised biological reference medicine. Manufacturing of biologicals is complex, and the quality of the resulting biological is dependent on careful control of manufacturing processes and conditions. Unlike traditional small molecule (chemical) drugs, the development of biologicals is different and variable with respect to the manufacturing process and environmental factors, such as light and temperature. The complexity and heterogeneity of the molecular structure, complicated manufacturing processes, different analytical methods and possibility of immunogenicity reactions make quantitative evaluation of biosimilars a challenge to both the scientific community and regulatory agencies.
Boehringer Ingelheim starts biosimilar rituximab trial
Germany-based Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals (Boehringer Ingelheim) is starting a Phase III trial for a biosimilar version of rituximab.
Biosimilar comparability debate continues
Authors Schellekens and Moors comment on the response from EMA’s Biosimilar Medicinal Products Working Party to questions that they raised regarding EMA’s comprehensive biosimilar regulatory pathway [1]. While the authors express their appreciation of the openness of EMA in the way it has pioneered the biosimilars pathway in Europe, they still argue that EMA has failed to show the scientific need for biosimilar comparability [2].
EMA responds to questions over biosimilar comparability
EMA has responded to questions regarding its comprehensive biosimilar regulatory pathway. The pathway, which includes the need for new clinical trials and comparability studies that demonstrate quality, efficacy, and safety, has been accused of proving to be a barrier for the development of clinically superior compounds [1].
Patients and biosimilar interchangeability
Biopharmaceuticals or biologicals are complex medicines produced by living cells. Copies of approved biologicals have been introduced recently. Because of their intrinsic complexity such copies are similar but not identical to the reference medicine and are therefore called ‘biosimilars’. Approval of biosimilars requires a full quality analysis including a detailed comparison to the reference whereas non-clinical and clinical evaluations are less extensive.
Investigating G-CSF biosimilars approved in Europe
A life-threatening complication for patients undergoing chemotherapy is febrile neutropenia, involving a loss of neutrophils (white blood cells) and fever. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) are growth factors which are used to restore neutrophil production.
