The Center for Biosimilars Staff

Pfizer has launched its biosimilar trastuzumab, Trazimera, in Spain. The biosimilar became available to Spanish patients with early and locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer and HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer on April 1, 2019.

Intravenous golimumab and infliximab are both widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the United States, though these anti–tumor necrosis factor agents have markedly different dosing recommendations; patients who receive golimumab may receive 7 infusions during year 1, while patients who receive infliximab may receive between 8 and 14 infusions during year 1.

Next week, researchers from around the globe will gather in Geneva, Switzerland, for the 2019 European Lung Cancer Congress. During the meeting, multiple research teams will discuss new findings from research into the use of bevacizumab—which now has approved biosimilars that promise cost savings and expanded patient access—in nonsquamous non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Pfizer’s biosimilar filgrastim, Nivestym, was approved by the FDA in July 2018 and launched in the United States in October 2018. Among the data on which the approval was based were 3 comparative clinical assessments of the pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), immunogenicity, and safety of the biosimilar versus the US-licensed reference filgrastim (Neupogen) in both male and female healthy volunteers. Results from these studies were reported in full last week.

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals has withdrawn its Biologics License Application (BLA) for eflapegrastim, a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy that the company had hoped to sell under the brand name Rolontis.

Lupin and YL Biologics announced today that they have received approval to manufacture and sell YLB113, a biosimilar etanercept product, in Japan. The product will be Lupin’s first biosimilar to come to the Japanese market.

Recently, a study sought to determine whether dose reductions of anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies are possible for long-term treatment of spondyloarthritis, and found that a reduced dose is noninferior to a full dose in patients in sustained clinical remission.

Like all biologics, infliximab has the potential for immunogenicity, and the development of antidrug antibodies (ADAs) can lead to loss of response or hypersensitivity reactions. A newly published paper sought to evaluate the development of a cellular response to infliximab and whether such a response could predict ADA development.

The European Commission has approved Roche’s innovator rituximab, sold in Europe as MabThera, for the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris (PV), a rare autoimmune disorder. The approval marks the first biologic approval for PV in the European Union, and the first major new therapeutic option in 60 years.

The Biosimilars Forum and Medicines for Europe today released a joint white paper that discusses how Europe has successfully sustained its multisource biosimilars market for the past 10 years. The forum also suggests that the United States make structural changes in order to achieve similar success.

Sagent Pharmaceuticals, a division of Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, announced earlier this month that it has purchased an FDA-approved manufacturing site in Raleigh, North Carolina, from Xellia Pharmaceuticals.

This week, Novartis announced that Richard Francis, chief executive officer (CEO) of the company’s Sandoz division, will step down on March 31.

According to the investigators, their data support the further development of CT-P16 as a bevacizumab biosimilar.

The new acting chief of the FDA, Ned Sharpless, MD, has a track record with the biotechnology industry and a friendly relationship with the man he is replacing, Scott Gottlieb, MD.

Recently, a new study sought to examine treatment patterns in US patients new to anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy, and it found that a majority of patients, particularly women, do not remain on their first anti-TNF after 2 years.

The Trump administration has released its proposed budget for the fiscal year 2020, and contained within it are a variety of proposals that impact biosimilars.

The FDA has approved Pfizer’s trastuzumab-qyyp (Trazimera), a biosimilar referencing Herceptin.

Biosimilars have been making substantial inroads in Europe, where their use is associated with increased patient access to treatment, particularly in nations with lower healthcare resources. Even so, biosimilars may be unfamiliar to stakeholders, and prescribers, pharmacists, and patients have lingering concerns about these products.

The launch of biosimilar adalimumab products in the European Union in October 2018 was an important moment for health systems in serious need of cost savings on one of their top drugs for spending: Humira. Now, early data show that adalimumab biosimilars are off to a strong start in the EU market.

Napp Pharmaceuticals has announced the UK launch of Pelmeg, a biosimilar pegfilgrastim developed by Cinfa Biotech and subsequently acquired by Mundipharma.

Mylan revealed in its recent fourth quarter 2018 earnings call that it had an initial advisory meeting with the FDA regarding a proposed biosimilar onabotulinumtoxinA, referencing the brand-name Botox.

On this Rare Disease Day, learn more about how biosimilars are poised to help treat patients with rare diseases.

Regulators in China have approved the country’s first ever biosimilar, a rituximab product referencing Rituxan. The product, HLX01, was developed by Henlius and will be primarily used in the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Regulatory requirements that were applied in the analysis of the drug, say investigators who took part in its development, will set a precedent for analytical similarity assessments of biosimilars in China going forward.

A recent study aimed to evaluate patients’ and nurses’ preferences for the autoinjector for a biosimilar adalimumab marketed as Imraldi in the European Union versus autoinjectors of reference adalimumab or reference etanercept.

This month, biosimilar developer Sandoz filed suit against Amgen, asking the United States district court for the Northern District of California for a declaratory judgment of patent noninfringement and invalidity.

New psoriasis treatment guidelines released this month by the American Academy of Dermatology and the National Psoriasis Foundation outline the use of biologics in treating and managing psoriasis.

Biosimilar developer Sandoz today announced the launch of its biosimilar adalimumab, Hyrimoz, in Spain. The biosimilar, referencing Humira, was authorized for sale in the European Union in July 2018.

Originator and biosimilar anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies are widely used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and are effective in reducing systemic inflammation and thereby reducing tissue damage. While these drugs have revolutionized the treatment of IBD, adverse events (AEs) related to these agents can cause morbidity and mortality, and gastroenterologists must be prepared to recognize and manage these AEs. A recently published review described AEs of particular concern with anti-TNFs and outlined their management.

The United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) today released a final appraisal of pertuzumab (Perjeta) together with intravenous trastuzumab and chemotherapy for the treatment of HER2-positive early breast cancer, and recommended pertuzumab for use in patients if they have lymph node–positive disease and if drug maker Roche adheres to its promised discount for the drug.

As brand-name biologics that have achieved strong sales begin to age, and as biosimilar developers grow closer to gaining approval for and launching their products, innovator biologic developers are taking on new strategies to defend their profits and market share.