Ireland's MMP To Review Anti-TNF Drugs in a Push to Prescribe Best-Value Biologics
October 17th 2018Ireland’s Medicines Management Program (MMP), a body that promotes cost-effective drug prescribing, has opened a consultation related to its roadmap for prescribing best-value biologics in the Irish healthcare setting. Under the roadmap, the MMP will review the use of currently reimbursed anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapies, which represent the highest-expenditure category for Ireland’s reimbursement plan.
On the Eve of Humira's Patent Expiry, Europe Prepares for Biosimilar Adalimumab
October 15th 2018October 16 marks European patent expiry for AbbVie’s blockbuster anti–tumor necrosis factor drug, adalimumab (Humira), and multiple competitors stand ready to launch their biosimilar products on, or shortly after, that date.
Patients With Pemphigus Vulgaris May Benefit From Early Rituximab
October 14th 2018Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare immune-mediated skin disorder, typically occurring in middle-aged and older adults, that involves painful blistering of the skin and mucous membranes. While many patients are well controlled on systemic corticosteroid treatment, steroid-sparing therapy can be desirable for treating moderate to severe forms of the disease, and rituximab is one such agent to show promise in this indication.
Merck Terminates Follow-on Insulin Agreement with Samsung Bioepis
October 13th 2018According to a filing made in the Republic of Korea, Samsung Bioepis has disclosed that Merck has terminated the companies' development and commercialization agreement for a follow-on insulin glargine product referencing Sanofi’s Lantus.
ODAC Hearing Shows the Mood on Biosimilars Is Changing, Oncologist Says
October 12th 2018Kashyap Patel, MD, a medical oncologist at Carolina Blood and Cancer Care, said after the FDA’s Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC) hearing on CT-P10 that "Clearly, the mood has changed to be a lot more favorable for the biosimilars.”
Department of Justice Approves CVS and Aetna Merger Despite AMA Concerns
October 12th 2018In June, the American Medical Association's (AMA) president Barbara L. McAneny, MD, outlined the group’s concerns during a hearing held by the California Department of Insurance stating that “The AMA has come to the conclusion that this merger would likely substantially lessen competition in many healthcare markets, to the detriment of patients,” and therefore should be blocked.
Sandoz Settles With AbbVie Over Humira Biosimilar, Hyrimoz
October 12th 2018On Thursday, biosimilar developer Sandoz announced that it had reached a global settlement of its patent disputes with AbbVie, maker of the reference Humira. The settlements will allow Sandoz to enter some European markets with its biosimilar adalimumab, Hyrimoz, as early as October 16, 2018.
European Analysis Finds Infliximab to Be Most Cost-Effective Biologic for RA
October 11th 2018The paper reports findings from a study that used retrospective data from a single center in Poland from 2009 to 2014. Records from a total of 104 patients, each of whom received infliximab, etanercept, or adalimumab under the National Health Fund, were assessed.
New Value Assessment Framework Needed for Biosimilars, White Paper Argues
October 11th 2018As US healthcare increasingly moves toward value-based payment approaches, biosimilars, which reduce costs while maintaining treatment quality, can be an important driver of value. However, according to a white paper, a new framework for assessing the value of biosimilars is warranted.
ODAC Unanimously Recommends Celltrion's Biosimilar Rituximab for FDA Approval
October 10th 2018In a vote on whether the totality of the evidence supported the licensure of CT-P10 as a biosimilar to Rituxan, all 16 Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC) members voted yes, for reasons some enumerated as “overwhelming biosimilarity and clinical trial evidence” that “really sealed the deal.”
Association of European Cancer Leagues Calls for Faster Biosimilar Uptake
October 10th 2018The Association of European Cancer Leagues, a nonprofit, pan-European organization of national and regional cancer societies, has issued a new white paper that calls for greater biosimilar use as a means to reduce costs and increase patient access to cancer treatment.
Mundipharma Acquires Cinfa Biotech, Along With Its Pegfilgrastim Biosimilar
October 10th 2018Mundipharma, a network of independent companies that operates in 120 countries worldwide, announced today that it has acquired biosimilar developer Cinfa Biotech. The deal will provide Mundipharma with access to B12019, a proposed biosimilar pegfilgrastim, referencing Neulasta, which received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use in September 2018.
Stakeholders Fear USMCA Will Thwart Biosimilars
October 9th 2018Earlier this month, the United States, Mexico, and Canada entered into the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, or USMCA, an updated version of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Since the details of the agreement were released, the pharmaceutical intellectual property portions of the deal have come under scrutiny.
Alexion to Seek Fourth Indication for Eculizumab Ahead of Biosimilar Competition
October 9th 2018Drug maker Alexion says that it is preparing for regulatory submissions in the United States, the European Union, and Japan for eculizumab (Soliris) for the treatment of anti-aquaporin-4 auto antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.
Fresenius Kabi's Biosimilar Pegfilgrastim Meets Primary Endpoints in 2 Studies
October 9th 2018Fresenius Kabi announced today that its MSB11455, a proposed pegfilgrastim biosimilar referencing Neulasta, met its primary endpoints in 2 clinical studies that are intended to facilitate regulatory applications for the product in the United States and the European Union.
Ahead of ODAC Meeting, FDA Documents Say CT-P10 is Highly Similar to Rituxan
October 8th 2018The FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) briefing documents state that the totality of the evidence suggests that the proposed biosimilar is highly similar to its US-licensed reference, despite minor differences in clinically inactive compounds.
Standardized Dose Rounding for Infliximab Reduces Costs, Study Demonstrates
October 8th 2018Infliximab accounts for substantial drug spending in the United States, and dose rounding has become a common practice at many facilities as a way to avoid wasting vials that have only been partially used. However, many institutions do not have standardized approaches to rounding doses, and because infliximab requires a weight-based dose, rounding becomes even more complex.
European Officials Promote Use of EHRs to Gather Real-World Data on Pharmaceuticals
October 7th 2018Using electronic health records (EHRs) to create a learning healthcare system, say the authors, can enable researchers to generate new knowledge that will accrue benefits to future generations of patients.
House Joins Senate in Passing Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act
October 6th 2018The United States House of Representatives has passed the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act. The bill will now be sent to the President for his consideration, as the Senate already passed the bill earlier last month with an overwhelming majority of 92 to 2.
Merck Seeing Gains for Renflexis at VA
October 5th 2018Merck’s infliximab biosimilar, sold as Renflexis and approved by the FDA in April of last year, was determined to be the lowest priced infliximab option available to the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and was awarded a national contract. Subsequently, it has become the sole infliximab product available on the VA's National Formulary.
UK Proposes Shorter Time Frame for Biosimilar Authorization Amid Brexit Shortage Fears
October 5th 2018The United Kingdom has opened a consultation on provisions that it hopes will ensure the supply of medicines in the event that no agreement can be made between the United Kingdom and the European Union before the Brexit deadline.
Study: Biosimilars Could Drastically Reduce the Cost of Insulin
October 5th 2018“Comparison of estimated prices with recent government procurement prices suggests that robust competition in the human insulin and insulin analogue market would lead to sizeable savings in most countries and that current manufacturers could set significantly lower prices while still making a profit,” write the study’s authors.