Kelly Davio

On December 19, Richard Seeborg, US district judge for the Northern District of California, granted a summary judgment of noninfringement in Amgen v Sandoz.

AbbVie reported on Wednesday that a phase 3 trial of its upadacitinib as monotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) met all of its primary and key secondary endpoints, giving more momentum to the drug that appears poised to help AbbVie retain its share of the RA market after adalimumab biosimilars launch in the United States. However, a death reported during the trial raises renewed concerns about the safety of the Janus kinase inhibitor.

Last week’s ruling in the federal circuit, which held that state law cannot compel biosimilar applicants to participate in the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) “patent dance,” has raised questions about how the case will impact the BPCIA in the days ahead. Yet Kevin M. Nelson, JD, partner at Schiff Hardin’s Hatch-Waxman and biosimilars practice, told The Center for Biosimilars® in an interview, that, “For the BPCIA, I don’t think it means much.” In Nelson’s view, the most significant impact that the ruling will have is on the early case assessments that biosimilar applicants undertake when determining whether they will take part in the information exchange process.

Republic of Korea-based Samsung Bioepis announced on Tuesday that the FDA has accepted for review the company’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for SB3, a proposed trastuzumab biosimilar, referenced on Herceptin. If the FDA approves SB3, the drug will be commercialized in the US by Merck.

Mylan has announced that the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) has instituted inter partes review (IPR) proceedings on all claims against 2 patents that cover Sanofi’s innovator insulin glargine injection, Lantus.

Republic of Korea-based biosimilar developer Celltrion announced on December 16 that it has received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for its trastuzumab biosimilar, referenced on Roche’s blockbuster anticancer therapy, Herceptin. The positive opinion will now be referred to the European Commission for final review.

While anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies are effective in helping patients with Crohn disease (CD) gain remission, data on using anti-TNFs in patients with stricturing CD are conflicting; some reports suggest that anti-TNF agents increase the risk of intestinal obstruction.

The FDA has released new draft guidance for industry on refuse-to-file (RTF) action taken by the FDA. The document seeks to clarify circumstances under which the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) may refuse to file a new drug application (NDA), supplemental NDA, or a Biologics License Application (BLA), or supplemental BLA for a product regulated by CDER.

The federal circuit ruled today in Amgen v Sandoz that state law cannot compel drug makers to participate in the so-called “patent dance” provided for in the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act because state law cannot preempt federal law.

Pfizer announced on December 13 that the FDA has approved Ixifi, PF-06438179, infliximab-qbtx, the company’s second biosimilar to the reference infliximab, Remicade.

On December 13, the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health heard testimony from a variety of healthcare stakeholders in a hearing titled “Examining the Drug Supply Chain.” During the proceeding, a follow-up to a hearing on implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act, several witnesses focused their attention on the promise of—and challenges specific to—biosimilars in the US marketplace.

A Delaware Magistrate Judge has recommended that Amgen’s lawsuit against biosimilar developer Coherus be dismissed.

Roche has announced positive data on 2 of its innovator oncology biologics in combination with other therapies. The combinations using rituximab (MabThera, Rituxan) and bevacizumab (Avastin) could help the Swiss drug maker to protect sales of these monoclonal antibodies in the face of oncoming biosimilar competition.

A recent study examined whether the use of the anti–tumor necrosis factor agent infliximab could reduce the death of photoreceptors after retinal detachment in an experimental mouse model.

The FDA has granted final approval to the first short-acting follow-on insulin product, Sanofi’s Admelog (insulin lispro injection). Admelog is indicated to improve insulin control in blood sugar levels in adults and children aged 3 years and older who have type 1 diabetes and in adults who have type 2 diabetes.

While the American College of Rheumatology praised the FDA for considering ways to reduce regulatory burden, the organization called on the FDA to focus on 6 “minimum components of review and oversight” for biosimilars.

A recently published systematic literature review sought to compare the effects of down-titration of biologics compared with standard dosing on clinical efficacy and health-related quality of life, and to evaluate the impact of decreased doses on the cost of RA treatment.

Advances in research have led to increased therapeutic options for patients with cancer, but these drugs come at a substantial cost; high out-of-pocket costs pose a significant barrier to treatment initiation for patients with cancer, according to a new, retrospective claims-based study.

A newly published study finds that subcutaneous administration of trastuzumab produces substantial time savings for healthcare providers and patients, as well as reduced costs.

Novo Nordisk has announced new data on its development of a next-generation insulin that could help the company stave off biosimilar and follow-on insulin competition. Meanwhile, Sanofi announced that its own insulin met its main objective in a head-to-head study versus Novo Nordisk’s product.

The Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM), a trade association that represents biosimilar and generic drug makers, has filed an amicus brief in support of Mylan, Teva, and Akorn in their inter partes review (IPR) proceeding against Allergan, owner of embattled patents covering cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion (Restasis).

On Sunday, December 10, at the American Society of Hematology’s 59th Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, Noah Federman, MD, will present research from a phase 2 study on the use of subcutaneous tbo-filgrastim (Granix) in pediatric patients with solid tumors who are undergoing chemotherapy.

On Saturday, December 9, at the American Society of Hematology’s 59th Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, Scott Huntington, MD, MPH, will present his research team’s findings that the receipt of lymphoma care in the community-based setting is associated with guideline-discordant use of rituximab.

Russian biosimilar developer Biocad has announced that it will begin manufacturing its rituximab and bevacizumab biosimilars in Morocco. The 2 drugs, manufactured in partnership with Sothema Labs, will be sold in numerous markets in North Africa, including Morocco, Senegal, Gabon, and Cote d’Ivoire.

The FDA has approved Mylan–Biocon’s trastuzumab biosimilar, MYL-1401O, referenced on Roche’s Herceptin. The drug will be marketed in the United States as Ogivri.

November saw a number of developments related to biosimilar therapies for rheumatologic indications, with new data published, policies adapted, and devices launched.

The European Commission (EC) has launched a patient-focused question-and-answer document, titled “What I Need to Know About Biosimilar Medicines,” in 23 EU languages.

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) may benefit from biologic therapies, including anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatments including adalimumab (Humira), certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), etanercept (Enbrel), golimumab (Simponi), and infliximab (Remicade or its biosimiars, Inflectra and Renflexis).

Drug maker Biocon has launched a biosimilar bevacizumab (referenced on Avastin) in India.

A recent case report, published in the European Journal of Rheumatology, showed that switching to biosimilar infliximab resulted in a rapid loss of efficacy in 3 patients with Behçet’s disease (BD), a chronic, relapsing, systemic vasculitis.