Regulatory

British Columbia's 2019 Biosimilars Initiative, which transitioned over 40,000 patients from costly reference biologics to biosimilars, saved around $732 million in 5 years, maintained comparable health outcomes, and reinvested the savings to improve the province's public payer program.

American and European regulatory agencies have provided companies with good news, with several biosimilar candidates seeing application acceptances or approvals in Europe.

In a position paper from the Biosimilars Council, the organization points to evidence showing that clinical efficacy trials are a major barrier to biosimilar access in the US, calling for the FDA to change its policies to remove them in favor of other comparators.

The FDA approved Bkemv (eculizumab-aeeb) as the first biosimilar to Soliris (eculizumab) for 2 rare diseases. It was also approved with interchangeability.

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, congratulates the FDA on approving the 50th biosimilar, noting that there's more work to be done to expand the market.

As Indian pharmaceutical companies supplied 4 of every 10 prescriptions in the US in 2022, generating $1.3 trillion in health care savings, a new IQVIA report highlights concerns about supply chain risks and advocates for partnerships to bolster biosimilar security and overall supply chain resilience.

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, explains FDA's new guidance on promotional labeling as well as challenges and insights into how this new guidance will impact biosimilars.

The FDA approved a high-concentration, citrate-free version of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm), making it the second high-concentration adalimumab biosimilar to have an interchangeability designation.

The approval marks the sixth for a biosimilar referencing Herceptin (trastuzumab) for the treatment of HER2-positive breast and gastric cancers.

The European Union gained a new ustekinumab biosimilar; Alvotech released positive results from a clinical trial evaluating a golimumab biosimilar and the reference products (Simponi and Simponi Aria), and Evernorth announced that it is set to cover an adalimumab biosimilar at zero cost to patients.

Julie Reed, executive director of the Biosimilars Forum, showcases how the biosimilar industry is expected to develop throughout 2024, including major policy changes and hope for continued improvement in market share for adalimumab biosimilars.

Tyenne (tocilizumab-aazg) was the second tocilizumab biosimilar to be FDA approved, but it is the first to launch in the US.

Alvotech’s Selarsdi (ustekinumab-aekn), a biosimilar referencing Stelara (ustekinumab), gained FDA approval, making it the second ustekinumab biosimilar and second for the company to be given the green light for the American market.

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, outlines the current state of interchangeable biosimilars in the US and policy changes needed to clear up misconceptions surrounding the meaning behind interchangeability designations.

A Chinese company has expressed interest in developing a biosimilar to Ozempic (semaglutide); Celltrion completed its biologic license application for its omalizumab biosimilar candidate.

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, explains how the new international recognition procedure under the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) could expand biosimilar access within the United Kingdom, in his latest column.

A recent study used difference-in-difference analysis to assess adalimumab sales volumes and expenditures in 6 countries with and 8 countries without available biosimilar adalimumab products.

The FDA has approved Fresenius Kabi's tocilizumab biosimilar (Tyenne; tocilizumab-aazg), making it the second tocilizumab biosimilar overall and first tocilizumab biosimilar to be approved with both intravenous and subcutaneous administration options.

Sandoz’ Wyost/Jubbonti (denosumab-bddz) references Prolia and Xgeva and can be used to treat osteoporosis and hypercalcemia as well as prevent skeletal-related events associated with bone metastases from solid tumors.

Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, takes a look at the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) announcement that it will investigate whether comparative efficacy tests should be needed for a biosimilar to receive regulatory approval.

Samsung Bioepis provided multiple updates on its biosimilar projects, including a new partnership for its aflibercept biosimilar candidate as well as regulatory news in the European Union and Republic of Korea.

Unbranded biologics primarily serve to uphold inflated list prices, typically prompted by loss of exclusivity, aiming to safeguard market share and counter biosimilar competition, although forthcoming legislative changes targeting high drug costs could lessen their significance moving forward.

After receiving 3 complete response letters, Alvotech has officially received US approval for its adalimumab biosimilar (AVT02; Simlandi), making it the first approval for the company, the 10th biosimilar to reference Humira, and the third interchangeable adalimumab biosimilar.

Celltrion announced that 3 of its oncology biosimilar products have won tender contracts in France and Italy, and an experimental oral delivery device utilizing an ustekinumab biosimilar was successful in a phase 1 study.

The Center for Biosimilars® looks back at the first year of adalimumab biosimilars on the US market, including every product launch and approval as well as market trends and pricing strategies.

A Korean health agency issued Samsung Bioepis an administrative penalty related to its biosimilar referencing Eylea (aflibercept); the FDA updates its labeling recommendations for interchangeable biosimilars; Alvotech receives another Form 483 after the FDA reinspected its Iceland-based manufacturing facility.

The FDA, Congress, biologic developers, and associations dedicated to evaluating the US biopharmaceutical space will need to work together to overcome challenges to biosimilar accessibility, says Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, in his new column.

The FDA has approved Coherus Biosciences’ on-body injector version of Udenyca (pegfilgrastim-cbqv), making it the first biosimilar to reference Neulasta Onpro, the pegfilgrastim product that holds the majority of the pegfilgrastim market share.

Chelsee Jensen, PharmD, BCPS, senior pharmacy specialist and pharmaceutical formulary manager at Mayo Clinic, reacts to the biggest FDA approvals of 2023 and how she sees the adalimumab, natalizumab, and tocilizumab spaces playing out.

As Regeneron gears up for a legal battle with biosimilar competitors for its reference aflibercept, CareFirst files a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson for restricting biosimilar ustekinumab competition; Celltrion and Accord BioPharma file with the FDA to approve their respective biosimilar candidates.