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The new acting chief of the FDA, Ned Sharpless, MD, has a track record with the biotechnology industry and a friendly relationship with the man he is replacing, Scott Gottlieb, MD.

Patients using expensive specialty medications, such as those that treat inflammatory diseases, are particularly impacted by pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) rebates, given the relationship of rebates to price. In the case of biosimilars, rebate strategies may lead to reference biologics being placed on preferred formularies in the United States while less expensive options are kept off the formulary.

Drug maker Alvotech announced today that it has begun enrollment for its phase 3 clinical study of AVT02, a proposed adalimumab biosimilar referencing Humira. Alvotech says that it has enrolled its first patient, and it plans to enroll approximately 400 total participants at 30 European sites in the study of AVT02 versus the reference product in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.

The FDA has issued a new Form 483 to Biocon over the Bangalore facility where it produces its biosimilars. The document makes 2 inspection observations that stem from an inspection carried out in February 2019.

This month, US District Judge William Alsup granted biologic developer Genentech some relief in its civil case against biosimilar developer JHL.

After the FDA published updated draft guidance on the naming of biologics, biosimilars, and interchangeable biosimilars, biosimilar developers were quick to voice their concerns. According to industry, the FDA’s decision to require 4-letter, nonmeaningful suffixes for biosimilars, interchangeable biosimilars, and new biologics—but not already approved biologics—could seriously hinder biosimilar uptake.

The Center for Biosimilars® recaps the top news for the week of March 4, 2019.

The FDA has issued an updated draft guidance on the naming of biologics, biosimilars, and interchangeable biosimilars.

The launch of biosimilar adalimumab products in the European Union in October 2018 was an important moment for health systems in serious need of cost savings on one of their top drugs for spending: Humira. Now, early data show that adalimumab biosimilars are off to a strong start in the EU market.

A few weeks after the United States Supreme Court rebuffed Maryland in its attempt to regulate drug prices, legislative committees are meeting Wednesday on a drug price transparency bill, as well as a bill to create a commission to review prices and set ceilings on insurers, pharmacies and hospitals.

News that FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, will step down from his position in 1 month’s time took stakeholders by surprise on Tuesday and raises questions about how the agency will approach biosimilars when it comes under new leadership. While Gottlieb’s departure has garnered the most attention, it is not the only recent FDA shake-up that could have an impact on the agency’s approach to biosimilars; Leah Christl, PhD, previously the director of the Therapeutic Biologics and Biosimilars Staff in the Office of New Drugs, left the FDA in February 2019.

The FDA has approved a subcutaneously administered version of the brand-name trastuzumab, Herceptin. The new formulation, trastuzumab and hyaluronidase-oysk, is a combination of the anticancer agent trastuzumab and an endoglycosidase that allows for the administration of higher volumes and enhanced absorption, and it has been approved under the name Herceptin Hylecta.

Eli Lilly and Company said Monday it is introducing a lower-priced authorized generic of its insulin lispro injection (Humalog) in the United States. The generic will have a list price 50% lower than the current Humalog list price.

Napp Pharmaceuticals has announced the UK launch of Pelmeg, a biosimilar pegfilgrastim developed by Cinfa Biotech and subsequently acquired by Mundipharma.

In February, the FDA issued a drug safety communication on tofacitinib (Xeljanz), an oral, small-molecule Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. According to the FDA communication, a clinical trial in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were taking an as-yet unapproved 10-mg dose of tofacitinib twice each day found an increased risk of blood clots and death.

Mylan revealed in its recent fourth quarter 2018 earnings call that it had an initial advisory meeting with the FDA regarding a proposed biosimilar onabotulinumtoxinA, referencing the brand-name Botox.

Pfenex and Alvogen announced this week that they have entered into agreements to develop and commercialize PF708, a follow-on teriparatide product referencing Forteo, for the treatment of osteoporosis, in the European Union, some countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and other territories.

Apobiologix, a division of Apotex, launched its pegfilgrastim biosimilar, Lapelga, in Canada this week. The company’s product, which gained Health Canada’s authorization in 2018, was the first biosimilar pegfilgrastim to be approved in any highly regulated territory.

The Center for Biosimilars® recaps the top news for the week of February 25, 2019.

As the United Kingdom continues to move toward its exit from the European Union without an agreed-upon deal, the UK National Institute for Biological Standards and Control has issued new guidance for manufacturers of biologics in preparation for a no-deal Brexit, and the European Medicines Agency issued a new communication to drug makers seeking Brexit-related Type 1 variations to their marketing authorizations.

This week, US Magistrate Judge Richard Lloret directed Boehringer Ingelheim to disclose its launch plans for its biosimilar adalimumab, Cyltezo, as part of a long-running patent dispute with AbbVie, maker of the reference adalimumab, Humira.

This month, biosimilar developer Sandoz filed suit against Amgen, asking the United States district court for the Northern District of California for a declaratory judgment of patent noninfringement and invalidity.

A recent issue brief, published by the Commonwealth Fund, described Germany’s approach as an alternative to the current US model that imposes high cost-sharing on patients.

Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), including gene therapies, cell therapies, and tissue engineering products, are providing groundbreaking approaches to treating rare diseases. However, the costs associated with these drugs are expected to pose challenges for affordability and the sustainability. A newly published paper looked ahead to the potential for—and challenges related to—biosimilars of ATMPs.

The Center for Biosimilars® recaps the top news for the week of February 18, 2019.

More payers began to significantly adjust their reimbursement strategies for biosimilars last year, according to pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) Magellan Rx Management.

In an interview with The Center for Biosimilars®, Mona Chitre, PharmD, CGP, chief pharmacy officer and vice president of clinical operations and health innovation at Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, said increased spending on specialty pharmacy products is a primary reason for health plans’ growing interest in developing strategies to address biosimilars.

AbbVie has announced that the FDA has accepted for priority review its New Drug Application for upadacitinib for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Upadacitinib is a proposed once-daily, small-molecule, oral Janus kinase inhibitor that, if approved, could be an alternative to therapy with such injectable biologics as AbbVie’s flagship RA treatment, adalimumab (Humira), which will face biosimilar competition in the United States by 2023.

Biosimilar developer Sandoz today announced the launch of its biosimilar adalimumab, Hyrimoz, in Spain. The biosimilar, referencing Humira, was authorized for sale in the European Union in July 2018.

A United States District Judge in New Jersey has allowed a proposed class-action lawsuit against 3 major insulin makers to proceed.