Oncology

Payers defend their policies on biosimilars in ophthalmic settings following allegations from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

"[Payers] are incorrectly assuming that biosimilars of bevacizumab are going to behave the same as Avastin in the eye, and they’re making that assumption with absolutely no data," contends George Williams, MD, clinical spokesperson and past president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Health care systems need to consistently reevaluate whether the biosimilars they utilize are the most cost-effective, Neal Dave, PharmD, the executive director of pharmacy at Texas Oncology, explains.

After a delay caused by a manufacturing shift, Formycon and Bioeq are back on track with their ranibizumab biologics license application (BLA), and their partner Coherus BioSciences is aligned for US commercialization.

Amgen reported a strong increase in biosimilar sales for the year but said competition is forcing down prices and affecting revenues for its originator products, too.

A supply chain shortage of Avastin (bevacizumab) is prompting policies for use of bevacizumab biosimilars instead, which the American Academy of Ophthalmology says could lead to problems.

When it comes to exports, Celltrion Healthcare leads the way among Republic of Korea pharmaceuticals producers. The company's biosimilars are the leading exports.

Pfizer reported strong sales for its biosimilars portfolio, but these were eclipsed by the massive success of the company's mRNA vaccine for COVID-19.

BioFactura looks to join the ustekinumab biosimilar race and Cardinal Health provides an interactive tool with state-by-state interchangeable rules.

Kashyap B. Patel, MD, says value of care is an important metric, but often people lose sight of what patients have to pay out of pocket, and how this affects them.

The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) provides a stepwise approach for fact-finding prior to patent litigation, but companies may choose their own path, case examples show.

Shanghai Henlius Biotech initiates a trial for patients with macular degeneration while Dong-A ST and Meiji Seika Pharma agree on a distribution plan for a ustekinumab biosimilar candidate.

China has approved a product for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn disease that Mabpharm and Sorrento Therapteutics say is an improvement on infliximab.

An advertisement for the Onpro wearable pegfilgrastim injector kit has the potential to undermine sales of biosimilars, the FDA stated in a warning letter.

Panelists at the American Conference Institute's 2021 meeting took on the complexities of biosimilar adoption in a wide-ranging discussion.

Chong Kun Dang of the Republic of Korea has entered a licensing deal for the distribution of a darbepoetin alfa biosimilar in the Gulf region.

Biosimilars are launching at significant discounts to reference products and capturing increasing market share, according to an Amgen report.

Top executives of JHL Biotech are alleged to have conspired to steal secrets for development of rituximab, bevacizumab, and trastuzumab biosimilars. Two co-conspirators have pleaded guilty in the case.

Following the release of a whitepaper on sustainable generics and biosimilars markets, members of a trade association discussed concerning trends for the industry.

In a white paper, the International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA) describes industry dynamics that it says affect market sustainability and patient access.

Ahead of receiving regulatory approval for a "wet" age-related macular degeneration biosimilar candidate, a broad-based commercialization deal is inked.

The Center for Biosimilars® provided news and insight during June 2021 in the form of interviews with key opinion leaders and coverage of major events. Catch up on what you missed.

Teva and Bioeq partner on ranibizumab, Organon joins the Biosimilars Forum, and the Alliance for Patient Access issues educational material for oncology biosimilars.

The BIOSIM Act would increase the add-on payment for use of a biosimilar, thereby incentivizing practitioners to use these products more often, according to proponents of the bill.

Investigators reported high overall response rates and savings of roughly $1400 per patient across cohorts.

Innovent Biologics said based on success of ORIENT-32, China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved sintilimab in combination with bevacizumab biosimilar (Byvasda) in front-line unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

Authors of an opinion piece suggest that a "reliance" approach to biosimilar approval could lead to global standards for acceptance that cut down on wasted review time and obsolete clinical investigation.

Sizeable savings per patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were anticipated by a Medicare savings model.

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has favored marketing authorization for the ranibizumab biosimilar (Byooviz, SB11) based on phase 3 study findings.

A turning point for interchangeable biosimilars has arrived, as the first may be approved this year, but many questions about these agents have yet to be answered, according to Laura Sim, senior counsel for Amgen.