Biosimilar Endocrinology Roundup: August
August 28th 2017August saw notable developments in the market for insulins in the world of endocrinology biosimilars and follow-ons: new studies showed similarity between a challenger to branded insulin glargine; price competition gained momentum; and patients, providers, and state governments signaled an urgent need for diabetes drug prices to drop.
Prophylactic Treatment With G-CSF Can Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia
August 25th 2017Providing prophylactic treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor to patients receiving chemotherapy may yield better chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and related hospitalization outcomes if patients receive prophylaxis at levels above guideline recommendations, according to a recent study.
Samsung Bioepis Gains EU Approval for Adalimumab Biosimilar
August 25th 2017Samsung Bioepis, a joint venture between Samsung Biologics and Biogen, announced that it has received the European Commission’s (EC) approval for its adalimumab biosimilar (Imraldi), referenced on AbbVie’s blockbuster Humira.
Auto-Injector for Biosimilar Etanercept Equivalent in Dosing, Tolerability to Pre-Filled Syringe
August 23rd 2017A study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology demonstrated the bioequivalence of GP2015, a biosimilar etanercept treatment (Sandoz’s Erelzi), when delivered with an auto-injector and when delivered with pre-filled syringe in patients across a variety of body weights.
Real-World Evidence Shows Biosimilar Filgrastim Safe, Effective Against Febrile Neutropenia
August 21st 2017Febrile neutropenia (FN) is among the most common complications of chemotherapy, and a recent post-marketing, multi-center, real-world, non-interventional, epidemiological study sought to examine the use, safety, and efficacy of biosimilar filgrastim in the primary and secondary prevention of FN.
CVS Health Survey Finds Patients Ready for Cost-Saving Biosimilars
August 19th 2017Pharmacy Benefit Manager CVS Health, which has over 90 million members, has released the results of a survey it conducted of approximately 2000 people in the United States concerning patient perceptions of generic and biosimilar medications.
LA-EP2006 as Effective, Safe as Reference Pegfilgrastim in Asian Patients With Breast Cancer
August 18th 2017Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), filgrastim, and its long-acting pegylated form, pegfilgrastim, are widely used to reduce the risk of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, but to date, no pegfilgrastim biosimilar has been approved in highly regulated markets such as Europe, Japan, and the United States.
Bevacizumab Biosimilars Could Affect the Value of Systemic Therapy in Gynecologic Cancers
August 17th 2017Treatment guidelines for ovarian and cervical cancer recommend the use of the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab (Avastin), but patient access to this medication and other angiogenesis inhibitors is limited.
Price Deals for Reference Products Pose a Threat to Biosimilars
August 16th 2017While US healthcare providers are growing more willing to adopt lower-cost biosimilar drugs as way to address the rising costs of biologic treatment, biosimilar developers are facing yet another challenge: competing against reference products for a preferred place on formularies.