Development

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, takes a look at the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) announcement that it will investigate whether comparative efficacy tests should be needed for a biosimilar to receive regulatory approval.

At the Congress of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation (ECCO), Celltrion and Samsung Bioepis presented new finding from their respective biosimilar analyses, demonstrating positive safety and efficacy measures for the biosimilars as treatments for Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Similar efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity were found when comparing Stelara, originator ustekinumab, and CT-P43, an ustekinumab biosimilar candidate, in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

In his latest column, Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, highlights challenges in biosimilar development, emphasizing the crucial role of US Pharmacopeia (USP) and advocating for collaboration and standardized guidelines to expedite cost-effective development without compromising safety or efficacy.

The FDA, Congress, biologic developers, and associations dedicated to evaluating the US biopharmaceutical space will need to work together to overcome challenges to biosimilar accessibility, says Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, in his new column.

As one study presented at the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) evaluated the use of circulating tumor DNA for response prediction after combination therapy with a trastuzumab biosimilar, another examined the efficacy of a pertuzumab biosimilar candidate.

Sarafraz K. Niazi, PhD, previews the new year and his hopes for the end of clinical efficacy testing for biosimilar approvals using examples from history of other scientific concepts that took time to gain traction.

Intro to Biosimilars is now in session! Test yourself on how well you know these biosimilar basics.

The regulatory structure of biosimilar development can be safely streamlined and made more efficient and less costly, wrote authors from Sandoz, Fresenius Kabi, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Samsung Bioepis in an opinion article published in BioDrugs.

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, offers his perspective on FDA biosimilar education efforts and the role these efforts and stakeholder perspectives play in uplifting—or undermining—biosimilar adoption.

The biosimilar Enoxa (enoxaparin), marketed in Tunisia, demonstrated equivalence in preventing subclinical postoperative thrombotic events in patients with digestive cancers to Sanofi’s Lovenox, in a randomized controlled trial.

A national study on patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compares the disease activity and drug survival rate between an etanercept biosimilar and the originator (Enbrel).

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, comments on a poll he conducted revealing that many are still hesitant to remove clinical efficacy study requirements for biosimilars in his latest column.

A phase 1 analysis confirms that romiplostim biosimilar candidate GP40141 has comparable pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters in healthy volunteers compared with the reference product.

The legal and common uses of “interchangeability” continue to be conflated.

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, offers hope for the end of interchangeability labels in the United States in his latest column.

In part 3 of a 3-part series for Global Biosimilars Week, The Center for Biosimilars® reviews an analysis investigating whether clinical efficacy studies have an impact on prescribing decisions for oncology biosimilars across Europe.

Samsung Bioepis releases data for its denosumab biosimilar candidate; the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) forms the Drug Policy and Regulation Committee; the International Generic and Biosimilar Association (IGBA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) collaborate on a new initiative.

The FDA introduced a plan to improve clinical trials, including a provision to possibly eliminate clinical efficacy testing for biologic products, which evidence has suggested may not be necessary, according to Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD.

Researchers of a literature review found similar safety profiles between a biosimilar pegfilgrastim and its reference product (Neulasta) across several phase 1 and phase 3 clinical trials.

In his comeback column, Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a professor at the University of Arizona, explores the world of biobetters and the complicated dynamics surrounding the FDA approval of Zymfentra, the first subcutaneous infliximab.

As Celltrion releases new data on its subcutaneous infliximab product in gastroenterology conditions, Samsung Bioepis secures an interchangeability designation for Byooviz, making it the second ranibizumab biosimilar to be deemed interchangeable with the reference product.

Continuous innovation is required in various technological aspects to effectively manage the challenges of vast clinical data.

Researchers of a literature review found similar safety profiles between biosimilar pegfilgrastim and its reference product (Neulasta) across several phase 1 and phase 3 clinical trials.

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, chronicles how drug master files (DMF) can be used in the biosimilar approval process and the role contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) can play in improving biosimilar accessibility.

At EURETINA 2023, Samsung Bioepis shared positive comparative efficacy data on its aflibercept biosimilar candidate, demonstrating that the product is as safe and effective as the originator (Eylea).

A recent webinar featured an in-depth discussion on the impacts that updated guidelines, a reduction in clinical efficacy testing, and biomarker analyses can have on the efficiency of biosimilar development.

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, summarized the citizen petitions he's filed to the FDA as well as changes he believes are needed to propel the biosimilar industry into the future, including calling on biosimilar manufacturers to help.

In the final part of a 3-part series, Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, gives his take on the FDA's recent workshop dedicated to streamlining biosimilar development and his opinion on what the industry can learn from the webinar presenters.

Although removing the requirement for clinical efficacy testing for biosimilar approval would reduce development costs of biosimilars, representatives from several biosimilar manufacturers argued in the second day of the FDA’s development workshop that clinical outcomes will not be affected.