Journal Publishes Letter on Banning Animal Testing for Biosimilars
July 12th 2022A letter penned by Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, advocating for the banning of animal testing requirements for biosimilar development was published in Science, suggesting the journal has softened to the idea that animal testing may not be as useful as originally thought.
Contributor: Good Bait and Fair Switch—Biosimilar Interchangeability, Substitution, and Choice
July 11th 2022Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a member of The Center for Biosimilars® Advisory Board, explains the difference between biosimilar interchangeability and substitution and weighs in on whether switching studies are necessary.
Survey: Most Patients Received Inadequate Information About Switching to a Trastuzumab Biosimilar
July 9th 2022A survey study found that many patients with breast cancer reported receiving inadequate information regarding switching from Herceptin to a trastuzumab biosimilar, with some patients reporting that they were never told a switch occurred or what a biosimilar was.
Medicines for Europe Recommends Off-Patent Drugs to Strengthen European Health Systems
July 5th 2022During its annual conference in Sitges, Spain, Medicines for Europe recommended policy reforms for strengthening European health systems, including the use of off-patent medications like biosimilar and generic drugs.
Celebrating the 4th: US Biosimilar Regulatory Recap 2022
July 4th 2022So far in 2022, the United States has taken some big steps in increasing biosimilar access and adoption throughout the nation, including 3 FDA approvals, an investigation into pharmacy benefit managers, and progress on congressional action.
Henlius’ Pertuzumab Biosimilar Shows Similar PK Profile to Reference Product in First Human Study
July 2nd 2022In the first human study of Shanghai Henlius Biotech's pertuzumab biosimilar candidate (HLX11), investigators found similar pharmacokinetic (PK), safety, and immunogenicity profiles between the biosimilar and the reference product (Perjeta).
Biosimilars Business Roundup: June 2022
June 30th 2022June brought with it several updates for biosimilars and the companies that make them, including the US launch of the first ranibizumab biosimilar, a new partnership between Organon and Shanghai Henlius Biotech, and the announcement of Sandoz’ global biosimilar initiative.
Contributor: No Animal Testing of Biosimilars—US Congress Begins Amendment to BPCIA
June 27th 2022Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, a professor and biosimilar advocate, chronicles the current efforts to remove animal testing from application requirements for biosimilars under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA), including recent congressional action.
Gillian Woollett Speaks on Where Biosimilar Conversations Need to Go Moving Forward
June 26th 2022Although a lot of discussion regarding biosimilars has focussed on patient access, we need to divert more attention to the reliability of companies making biosimilar products, said Gillian Woollett, MA, DPhil, vice president and head of regulatory strategy and policy at Samsung Bioepis.
Formycon: Biosimilar Acquisitions, Developments Signal Hope Despite Losses
June 23rd 2022Formycon’s completed acquisition of 2 biosimilar assets and start of development for 2 others provide hope for investors as the company announced some expected losses during the first quarter of fiscal year 2022.
How Will Payers Manage Multiple Adalimumab Biosimilars? Jeffrey Casberg Explains
June 22nd 2022Jeffrey Casberg, vice president of pharmacy at IPD Analytics, discussed the different options that payers have to manage the growing number of biosimilars referencing Humira (adalimumab) that are expected to enter the market in 2023 and beyond.
After Announcing Global Biosimilar Initiative, Sandoz Sees EU Biosimilar Application Acceptance
June 20th 2022Not long after the company announced its new global initiative to promote access and increase adoption of biosimilars, Sandoz’ biologics license application for its high-concentration adalimumab biosimilar was accepted by the European Union’s regulatory agency for review.
Julie Reed: Biosimilar Policies Legislators Should Be Prioritizing
June 19th 2022The Biden administration must follow through on its promises, and Congressional leaders must do more to push through bipartisan biosimilar policies to encourage better adoption and lower drug costs, according to Julie M. Reed, the executive director of the Biosimilars Forum.
Study: Financial Viability of Biosimilars Depends on Originator Sales, Market Entry Order
June 18th 2022A financial evaluation study proposed a framework for choosing which biosimilar candidates companies should develop, a process that requires a detailed and careful analysis to ensure that the candidate will be successful in global biopharmaceutical markets.
ASCO Studies Assess Biosimilar Substitution, Adoption in Oncology Practices
June 16th 2022Abstracts from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting took a look at the impact biosimilar substitution and increased biosimilar adoption had on spending within practices participating in value-based payment models and the Oncology Care Model.
Contributor: To Try or Not to Try? That’s Not the Question—Phase 3 Trials of Biosimilars and Beyond
June 15th 2022Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a member of The Center for Biosimilars® Advisory Board, explores the complicated world of phase 3 trials for biosimilars to answer the question of whether they are truly needed for establishing biosimilar safety and efficacy.
Eye on Pharma: New Indication for Riabni, Organon and Henlius Partner on 2 Biosimilar Candidates
June 14th 2022The FDA granted a new indication for rheumatoid arthritis for Riabni, a rituximab biosimilar, and Organon and Shanghai Henlius Biotech entered into a licensing agreement for 2 oncology biosimilar candidates.