Legal

Geoff Biegler, JD, a principal at Fish & Richardson, an intellectual property law firm, expands on his presentation on biosimilar legal challenges throughout 2022, providing insight on the inner workings of the patent dance and how a Supreme Court decision could have an impact on future cases.

Patent litigators from Fish & Richardson, an intellectual property law firm, regaled audiences during a webinar covering all the big biosimilar regulatory and legal decisions throughout 2022, including updates on patent disputes and antitrust investigations.

Janssen filed a lawsuit against Amgen, claiming the latter infringed on the former’s patents when creating its ustekinumab biosimilar, and Express Scripts announced that it would add adalimumab biosimilars to formulary.

The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act will seek to increase patient access to biosimilars by reducing switching study requirements for companies to obtain interchangeability designations.

As the US awaits the 2023 launch of adalimumab biosimilars, Biogen announces an injunction against Sandoz over a natalizumab biosimilar, Rani Therapeutics initiates a development program for an oral ustekinumab biosimilar, and Bio-Thera Solutions begins a phase 3 trial for a secukinumab biosimilar.

The deal follows a string of trials and settlements totaling $550 million in separate cases around the country.

Two experts in biosimilar intellectual property (IP) law break down the issues that digital health and precision medicine face with IP and the history of case law that has created the current landscape.

Sarfaraz 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.

After agreeing to settle with Amgen over its oncology biosimilars, Pfizer issued a new patent lawsuit against 5 companies over the development of Brenzys, an etanercept biosimilar, in Australia.

The United States is about to enter round 2 of biosimilar activity with a pipeline that expands biosimilars into new therapeutic areas, said Sonia Oskouei, PharmD, BCMAS, DPLA, vice president of biosimilars, Cardinal Health, during her presentation at Asembia’s Specialty Pharmacy Summit.

AbbVie settles outstanding lawsuits, including its case related to the International Trade Commission (ITC), with Alvotech, giving Alvotech the green light to launch its high-concentration, citrate-free adalimumab biosimilar referencing Humira in July 2023, pending FDA approval.

Iceland’s national health plan required patients to switch from Humira to the Samsung Bioepis biosimilar, Imraldi, which had a different injection device and contained citrate, a chemical buffer used to maintain the medication’s stability.

The year 2021 proved to be big for biosimilars, with 4 approvals and increased competition, signaling that FDA is shifting some of their focus from the pandemic back to the growing industry.

The IGBA maintains dialogue with other national, regional, and international bodies to ensure patient access to high-quality, safe, and effective medicines while reducing costs in pharmaceutical care.

The International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association has appointed a veteran member, Vivian Frittelli, MBA, ACIS, to take over as chair.

Amgen Chairman and CEO Robert Bradway touted the potential of 11 biosimilars anticipated to be driving revenues for the company by 2030.

Biosimilars have produced more than $20 billion of savings in Europe, but more use of these agents is needed.

The top legal stories in biosimilars over the past year concerned etanercept and adalimumab biosimilars and access to insulin.

Business stories about Celltrion, the potential for mRNA biosimilar vaccines, and Amgen's biosimilars overview topped the rankings for reader popularity in 2021.

The year 2021 brought several firsts in biosimilars and set the stage for expansion across therapeutic areas including diabetes and ophthalmology.

After an unsuccessful attempt to get an Illinois court to block the distribution of Alvotech's adalimumab candidate, AbbVie has tried again in a new forum.

Xbrane Biopharma of Stockholm, Sweden, said its next biosimilar candidates will target the demand for oncology and hematology therapeutics.

Ahead of sales and revenues, Icelandic company Alvotech lines up a massive capital investment and an initial public offering (IPO).

Steven Yates, MD, an oncologist and medical director at Intermountain Healthcare, discusses problems underlying the 340B Drug Pricing Program.

In the second setback this year for etanercept biosimilars, the US District Court for the District of New Jersey has ordered Samsung Bioepis to delay marketing Eticovo until 2029.

Authors of a review discuss barriers to insulin access and potential solutions as the 100-year anniversary of the drug's first use for diabetes gets closer.

Sarah Yim, MD, provided a point-by-point overview of the FDA's efforts to clarify the role of the interchangeable biosimilar designation, improve communication with manufacturers, and pay for biosimilar regulatory reviews.

As House leaders sought to build support for the Build Back Better Act, the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM) objected to drug price negotiations and proposed “rebate penalties.”

Kicking off Global Biosimilars Week, the International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA) released a blueprint detailing hurdles and opportunities for industry progress.

The second interchangeable biosimilar approval, estimates of biosimilar savings, and competition for ranibizumab biosimilars characterized the month's developments.