Development

Global biosimilar regulatory harmonization will be needed to reduce development costs and improve patient access, despite challenges posed by differing national requirements and regulatory frameworks, according to review authors.

Sarfaraz Niazi, PhD, urges the FDA to let the USPharmacopeia (USP) create product release specifications for biosimilars to cut costs, speed development, and enhance accessibility.

Since the FDA’s groundbreaking approval of Zarxio in 2015, the US biosimilars market has surged to 67 approvals across 18 originators—though the journey has been anything but smooth, with adoption facing hurdles along the way.

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, gives his opinion on how the recent IQVIA report “Assessing the Biosimilar Void in the US” could be improved for the future.

The pharmaceutical landscape enters 2025 with a mix of challenges and opportunities, with the potential to shape the future of drug access and affordability for patients across the nation.

Of the 118 biologics losing exclusivity over the next decade, only 10% have biosimilars in development, meaning a vast majority of biologics have no pipeline, which limits savings potential for the health care system.

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, argues that regulatory agencies should eliminate redundant clinical efficacy testing for biosimilars, recognizing them as "biogenerics" since physicochemical and in vitro biological comparisons are sufficient to ensure safety and efficacy.

Eculizumab biosimilar Elizaria demonstrates long-term safety and efficacy comparable with the reference product Soliris in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), according to a Russian study that expanded on a previous phase 3 study.

Biosimilar teriparatide has been shown to be as safe and effective as its reference product for osteoporosis treatment, potentially enabling significant cost savings in Japan’s health care system while addressing persistent misconceptions about biosimilar quality.

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, dives into the role that biosimilar associations and organizations play in promoting biosimilars as well as how their stakeholder demographic and main objectives differ from one another.

The US oncology biosimilar market has rapidly evolved since its launch in 2017, driven by steep price discounts, payer adoption, and provider confidence, with an upcoming wave of biosimilars targeting blockbuster biologics promising further market growth, cost savings, and broader patient access.

Celltrion’s denosumab biosimilar demonstrated equivalent efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity compared with the originator in a phase 3 trial involving postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, paving the way for improved accessibility and cost savings in osteoporosis treatment.

The phase 3 trial showed biosimilar CT-P42 (Celltrion) is therapeutically equivalent to reference aflibercept in improving visual acuity in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), with comparable efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity at 24 weeks, with more long-term data expected.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)’s withdrawal of its proposed terminal disclaimer rule is seen as a setback for biosimilar developers, as it preserves patent prosecution practices that favor originator companies and increases costs for biosimilar competition, according to Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD.

Alvotech and Advanz Pharma have submitted a European marketing application for their golimumab biosimilar to treat inflammatory diseases, while Celltrion secured Korean approval for denosumab biosimilars, and Intas Pharmaceuticals partnered with Xbrane Biopharma on a nivolumab biosimilar.

The proposed pertuzumab biosimilar QL1209 demonstrated equivalent efficacy and safety to reference pertuzumab (Perjeta) in neoadjuvant treatment of HER2-positive, ER/PR-negative early or locally advanced breast cancer, offering a cost-effective alternative with comparable clinical outcomes.

The study findings demonstrate that the aflibercept biosimilar MYL-1701P is as effective and safe as the reference aflibercept in treating diabetic macular edema (DME), offering a promising option for reducing treatment costs and improving global access to care for patients with DME.

The phase 3 trial (NCT04966338) found that a biosimilar ocrelizumab candidate (Xacrel) was equivalent to Ocrevus in reducing the annualized relapse rate and showed comparable safety and efficacy in treating relapsing multiple sclerosis over 96 weeks.

Biosimilars could improve access to biologic treatments and health care sustainability in Latin America, but their adoption is hindered by misconceptions, regulatory gaps, and weak pharmacovigilance, requiring targeted education and stronger regulations.

Part 3 of this series for Global Biosimilars Week, penned by Dracey Poore, director of biosimilars at Cardinal Health, explores the critical topic of interchangeability, examining its role in shaping biosimilar adoption and the broader implications for accessibility.

Henlius and Organon’s pertuzumab biosimilar met phase 3 goals; Meitheal expanded its US biosimilars; Celltrion’s subcutaneous infliximab (Zymfentra) showed monotherapy could be as effective as combination therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.

The article by Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, argues that the FDA’s classification of future copies of messenger RNA (mRNA) products could be reconsidered, suggesting they might be eligible for new drug applications (NDAs) or a hybrid biosimilar category due to their unique characteristics and increasing prevalence.

By expanding educational initiatives to clarify biosimilar safety, efficacy, and interchangeability, stakeholders can foster trust, improve access, and ensure that biosimilars are widely accepted as high-quality, cost-effective alternatives to originator biologics.

In October, the GRx+Biosims conference included discussions on data transparency, artificial intelligence, and collaboration to enhance the global supply chain for biosimilars and generic drugs, as well as the evolving requirements for biosimilar devices.

An IQVIA report highlights challenges to the sustainability of infused biosimilars in the US, citing rebate walls and reimbursement policies, and proposes key solutions to enhance adoption and benefits for all stakeholders.

Sophia Humphreys, PharmD, MHA, BCBBS, of Sutter Health notes that although initial adoption of adalimumab biosimilars remained low in 2023, competitive pricing pressures have already benefited patients and the health care sector.

At the GRx+Biosims conference, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, stressed the urgent need for data transparency in the global supply chain and the role of collaboration and artificial intelligence in ensuring the resilience of biosimilar and generic drug production.

At the GRx+Biosims 2024 conference, a panel of industry experts and FDA officials discussed evolving device requirements for biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars, highlighting new approaches to comparative use human factors studies, regulatory challenges, and alternative validation methods.