Policies & Legislation
Court rules Canadian drug regulators cannot control generics' prices
Canada’s Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) has been told that it has no jurisdiction over the pricing of generics.
EMA criticized for change in data transparency plans
New Legislation approved by the European Parliament on 2 April 2014 aims to increase transparency with respect to clinical trials by making the results publicly available. The Clinical Trials Regulation, which is expected to take effect in 2016, will require the results of all new clinical trials to be published within a year of the trial ending. The way, however, that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is proposing to make this data available has been criticized.
France to allow biosimilars substitution
Pharmacists in France will now be allowed to substitute a biosimilar for the prescribed (reference) biological under certain conditions, including only when initiating a course of treatment and that the prescribing physician has not marked the prescription as ‘non-substitutable’.
WHO calls for better science-based regulations for biosimilars
The sixty-seventh World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) closed on 24 May 2014, after adopting more than 20 resolutions on public health issues of global importance, one of which calls for better science-based regulations for biosimilars.
Europe–Japan cooperation on generics and biosimilars regulation
Japanese and European generics groups have met to discuss increase regulatory cooperation between the two regions.
EMA and FDA report on collaborative efforts
Key initiatives being undertaken between the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were discussed at a bilateral meeting which took place in London, UK, from 31 March to 1 April 2014.
Delaware passes biosimilars substitution law
Delaware has become the latest US state to pass a law allowing substitution of a biosimilar for an originator biological, but with certain restrictions.
Australian price cuts make PBS affordable
The price cuts for 121 medicines supplied through Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) have made the PBS sustainable, according to Medicines Australia, a group that represents originator manufacturers.
Bill proposes extension of patents for new uses of biologicals
A new bill, introduced in the US House of Representatives on 24 March 2014, proposes allowing patent owners to extend terms for certain biological patents if they are approved for new indications.
Indiana biosimilars substitution bill becomes law
Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed into law on 25 March 2014 legislation that will allow pharmacists to substitute biosimilars that the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved as interchangeable with an originator biological under certain conditions.
