Deana Ferreri, PhD

The proposed bevacizumab biosimilar BAT1706 (Bio-Thera Solutions) demonstrated equivalence to the reference product (Avastin) in a phase 3 comparative efficacy trial in patients with advanced nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

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.

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 review article discussed the characteristics of the available adalimumab biosimilars to help clinicians navigate the various treatment options with their patients.

A survey explores the experiences of health care providers (HCP) in New Zealand throughout the transition process following a mandatory switch from the adalimumab originator (Humira) to a biosimilar in 2022.

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.

A retrospective study of New England patients receiving trastuzumab or bevacizumab found that combining dose rounding and biosimilar use resulted in greater cost savings than either strategy alone.

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.

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.

A study on the stability of the adalimumab biosimilar candidate TUR01, a tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor, found long-term stability of the drug substance and drug product were maintained under different temperatures.

Authors of a study examined changes in pricing, market share, and utilization of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–α inhibitors infliximab, etanercept, and adalimumab as the first and second biosimilars for each molecule were introduced in Europe.

A review article sheds light on the growing adalimumab market in the US, including how these products are being priced, strategies companies are using to make their product stand out, and recommendations for policymakers to ensure the accessibility and affordability of these products.

In a real-world study in India, patients with ankylosing spondylitis who were treated with the adalimumab biosimilar Exemptia for 10 weeks showed improvements in disease activity that persisted through 48 weeks.

The ranibizumab biosimilar XSB-001 (Ximluci) demonstrated biosimilarity to the originator (Lucentis) in a phase 3 trial in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

A survey of patients with rheumatoid arthritis found that those who had switched to an adalimumab biosimilar reported higher disease severity, poorer treatment adherence, and poorer quality of life compared with patients who stayed on the reference product, highlighting the dangers of the nocebo effect.

Biosimilar market penetration has been slower than that of generics but the market share of biosimilars has grown over time, according to the authors of a study on biosimilar use in the European Union (EU).

Authors of a new in vitro study said Sanofi’s biosimilar SAR341402, approved in June 2020 by the European Medicines Agency for use in insulin pumps, had similar stability compared with the originator under stress conditions in their experiments.

A phase 1 clinical trial in China comparing the tocilizumab biosimilar candidate LZM008 to the reference product (Actemra) found pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters within the bioequivalence margins and similar immunogenicity and safety in healthy participants.

In a study including 2 years of real-world evidence (RWE), patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were switched from originator rituximab (Rituxan) to GP2013, a rituximab biosimilar, experienced positive results and maintained clinical outcomes.

The authors of what they say is the largest and longest follow-up study comparing the trastuzumab biosimilar SB3 to the reference product (Herceptin) in HER2-positive breast cancer found “no clinically meaningful difference” between the biosimilar and the reference product.

A review article investigating the use of bevacizumab biosimilars found that despite lingering concerns about their usage for extrapolated indications, bevacizumab biosimilars are regularly used in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) even though clinical tests only evaluate them in patients with lung cancer.

A long-term follow-up of a phase 3 study comparing ranibizumab biosimilar SB11 to the reference product (Lucentis) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) found the similarity in efficacy end points reported early on was maintained through 52 weeks.

Authors of a single-center, real-world study in Turkey found that patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who received a rituximab biosimilar had similar overall survival to patients who received the originator. However, progression-free survival was longer in the originator group.

A real-world study in India compared the ranibizumab biosimilar Razumab to the originator (Lucentis) in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), finding that the biosimilar had comparable clinical outcomes.

A review of real-world studies assessing patient-reported outcome measures of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) found that although clinical outcomes were similar, patients taking a biosimilar were found to have higher discontinuation rates, possibly as a result of the nocebo effect.

More and more women are becoming pregnant while on anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biosimilars used to treat inflammatory disorders. However, there is “little data” on the safety and effectiveness of biosimilars in pregnancy, according to authors of a recent retrospective study.

Increasing the use of biosimilars in Belgium will require realigning financial incentives and providing more information to medical professionals, according to authors of a study that proposed policy recommendations.

Authors of a review of safety results across indications and study designs on the epoetin alfa biosimilar HX575 concluded that HX575 “has repeatedly demonstrated long-term safety” in all approved indications in both clinical trials and real-world studies.

According to the authors of a cost-effectiveness analysis of treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China, sintilimab plus a bevacizumab biosimilar could improve quality of life for patients, but at a higher cost than lenvatinib.

An analysis of US claims data found that prevalent (as of 2017) users of the infliximab reference product (Remicade) had the highest adherence rates compared to naïve originator users, prevalent biosimilar users, and naïve biosimilar users over 18 months of follow-up.