Bone Health

A wave of biosimilar approvals, aggressive pricing strategies, and a regulatory sea change are setting the stage for unprecedented momentum in the US biologics market, with 2025 already proving to be a landmark year in reshaping cost, access, and innovation across therapeutic areas.

Biosimilar natalizumab demonstrated comparable efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity to reference drug Tysabri in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), supporting its potential as a cost-effective treatment option.

The denosumab biosimilar market is poised for disruption with 3 FDA-approved biosimilars, at least 5 awaiting approval, and launches anticipated to start in May 2025, while ongoing patent litigation continues to shape the competitive landscape.

The approvals for Celltrion's denosumab-bmwo (Stoboclo and Osenvelt) mark the third FDA green light for a biosimilar to treat osteoporosis and bone metastases.

Celltrion expands its reach in Europe, securing marketing authorization from the European Commission (EC) for its denosumab biosimilar candidate (Stoboclo and Osenvelt) and its aflibercept biosimilar (Eydenzelt).

The FDA and European Medicines Agency (EMA) granted approval, with interchangeability in the US, to Samsung Bioepis' denosumab biosimilars, which will be marketed under different names depending on whether they will be used to treat osteoporosis or bone metastases.

Researchers treated postmenopausal women with osteoporosis with teriparatide biosimilar RGB-10, which improved their bone health measures and reduced fracture risk comparably to reference teriparatide.

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.

In 2024, the FDA approved 19 biosimilars across various therapeutic areas, including the first biosimilars for ustekinumab and denosumab, marking significant progress in expanding treatment options and market competition.

Korean drugmakers hold over 50% market share in the 6 best-selling biosimilar markets, 2 companies sign exclusive licensing partnership for a denosumab biosimilar, and 2 others join forces for an eculizumab biosimilar.

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.

Sandoz's biosimilar denosumab (Jubbonti/Wyost) has demonstrated analytical, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and clinical equivalence to reference denosumab (Prolia/Xgeva), supporting its approval and extrapolation to all approved indications.

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 European Medicines Agency Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued a positive opinion for the denosumab biosimilars SB16 for all indications referencing Prolia and Xgeva.

The European Commission grants marketing authorization to 2 aflibercept biosimilars; Biosimilars Canada launches new campaign to provide sustainable solutions to employers; Celltrion shares positive data for 2 biosimilars.

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.

Regeneron appeals legal decision after judge refuses to block an aflibercept biosimilar; Prime Therapeutics, a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), becomes the latest to offer biosimilars referencing Humira (adalimumab) at a low cost; the FDA and European Medicines Agency accept a denosumab biosimilar candidate for review.

Celltrion's adalimumab-aaty biosimilar is now accessible for all Costco members, while Amgen sues Samsung Bioepis over the latter’s denosumab biosimilar candidate, and GlycoNex progresses its denosumab biosimilar SPD8 to phase 3 trials.

The European Union approves a tocilizumab biosimilar and the US sees another launch, Genentech’s ophthalmology biobetter returns to the market, and Samsung Bioepis shares data on switching to its denosumab biosimilar.

As Celltrion publishes phase 3 data on its tocilizumab biosimilar, other companies finalize partnerships, and Formycon begins development for a pembrolizumab biosimilar.

The FDA has issued an update to its guidance on requiring switching study data for biosimilars to be granted interchangeability, citing new science that shows these studies aren’t needed to establish biosimilar safety.

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

Posters from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2024 annual meeting demonstrate positive safety and efficacy data for denosumab and pegfilgrastim biosimilars.

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.

Coherus Biosciences has sold its ranibizumab biosimilar (Cimerli) to Sandoz; Celltrion has completed its biologics license application filing for its tocilizumab biosimilar (CT-P47); Alvotech shares positive pharmacokinetic results for its denosumab biosimilar candidate.

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.

A phase 1 analysis confirms that romiplostim biosimilar candidate GP40141 has comparable pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters in healthy volunteers compared with the reference product.

Samsung Bioepis releases data for its denosumab biosimilar candidate; the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) forms the Drug Policy and Regulation Committee; the International Generic and Biosimilar Association (IGBA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) collaborate on a new initiative.

A Chinese randomized study in healthy participants found comparable pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and safety profiles between LY01011, a denosumab biosimilar, and its originator (Xgeva).

Biosimilar teriparatide improves bone mineral density (BMD) when patients with osteoporosis are treated for a year or more.