Biotech giant Amgen now has a biosimilars programme that includes nine different molecules [1]. A representative from Amgen has spoken to GaBI about the company’s venture into biosimilars [2].
Biosimilars are a good strategic fit for Amgen and it is leveraging its existing biologicals experience and capabilities to build upon an existing, successful biologicals development programme. However, it does not believe in forcing patients to use biosimilars. This is perhaps in contrast to the European Generic medicines Association (EGA), which believes that governments should introduce pricing and reimbursement policies to encourage the use of biosimilars [3].
Amgen believes that physicians and patients can be encouraged to use biosimilars by making the supporting data available in the product information, and that high quality data and the accountability of manufacturers will support the use of biosimilars. In this way the company believes that physicians and patients will gain trust in and thus ‘choose’ biosimilars.
Amgen gives the example of Japan Chemical Research Pharmaceuticals’ (JCR) biosimilar recombinant human erythropoietin kappa (JR-013), which was approved for renal anaemia in kidney dialysis patients and premature infants in Japan in 2010 (Epoetin alfa BS) [4]. By the first quarter of 2014 the biosimilar had achieved a market share of 74% compared to the reference product [Kyowa Hakko Kirin’s Espo (epoetin alfa)].
The reason, according to Amgen, that JCR has such a high market share ‘is that the physician and patient are choosing the biosimilar and they do that by choice, not by force’. This example, Amgen says is evidence ‘that the whole argument of naming is not as important to uptake as people say’ [5].
Amgen thinks that, in a similar way to JCR, they ‘can make the biosimilar programme more successful in Europe and globally’ [6].
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References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Amgen expands biosimilars programme [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2015 Jan 23]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Amgen-expands-biosimilars-programmee
2. Derbyshire M. Amgen’s move into the biosimilars market. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal (GaBI Journal). 2014;3(4):202-3 . doi:10.5639/gabij.2014.0304.048
3. European Generic medicines Association (EGA). Frequently asked questions about biosimilar medicines [homepage on the Internet]. [cited 2015 Jan 23]. Available from: www.egagenerics.com/index.php/biosimilar-medicines/faq-on-biosimilars
4. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilar EPO and infliximab, adalimumab get formal Japanese approval [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2015 Jan 23]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/Biosimilar-EPO-and-infliximab-adalimumab-get-formal-Japanese-approval
5. Alexander E. The biosimilar name debate: what’s at stake for public health. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal (GaBI Journal). 2014;3(1):10-2. doi:10.5639/gabij.2014.0301.005
6. Derbyshire M. Biosimilars collaboration at Amgen and Actavis. Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal (GaBI Journal). 2014;3(3):155-6. doi:10.5639/gabij.2014.0303.035
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Source: Amgen interview with GaBI
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