Oncology

Use of the 351(k) biosimilar approval pathway entails legal challenges, high costs, and potentially higher clinical evidence standards. Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, suggests that using the 351(a) pathway for standalone drugs and copy products may be faster and better. This is part 3 of a series.

Worries about what HHS will propose in its anticipated biologics pricing reform policy have been exacerbated by a rumored coding change.

A group of 16 advocacy groups are urging HHS to make zero co-pays for biologics a part of its prescription drug price reform program.

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) backs away from its biosimilar inclusion policy after the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) raises concerns about safety and lack of clinical evidence.

Centus Biotherapeutics reports positive findings from AVANA for its bevacizumab biosimilar candidate.

Chad Pettit, MBA, executive director of Marketing and the Global Biosimilars commercial lead for Amgen, discussed the company’s 2021 Biosimilar Trends Report and his projections for the future of the biosimilars market.

After the loss of a manufacturing plant in China and a knock-down-drag-out battle with Johnson & Johnson, is Pfizer cooling on biosimilars?

A retrospective study of rituximab biosimilars Truxima and Riximyo demonstrated comparable response and survival for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

The LAVENDER study demonstrates safety and tolerability of simultaneous intravenous (IV) administration of biosimilar trastuzumab (Kanjinti) and pertuzumab in cohorts of healthy volunteers.

Passage of HR 3 is shaping up as a centerpiece of President Biden's effort to bring pharmaceutical prices under control. If drug companies won't negotiate prices, international reference pricing would kick in.

When it comes to their willingness to use biosimilars, providers and managed care pharmacists prefer greater transparency on formulary placement and costs, according to a focus group study based on health care surveys.

A report from Artemetrx details 2020 changes in demand for biosimilars and other specialty drugs, according to health plan spending. Dynamics that could affect future spending are also explained.

Semglee (insulin glargine) will be the first test of the FDA's interchangeability concept for biosimilars, but Viatris aims to grow its biosimilar revenues with multiple products.

Payers defend their policies on biosimilars in ophthalmic settings following allegations from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

"[Payers] are incorrectly assuming that biosimilars of bevacizumab are going to behave the same as Avastin in the eye, and they’re making that assumption with absolutely no data," contends George Williams, MD, clinical spokesperson and past president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Health care systems need to consistently reevaluate whether the biosimilars they utilize are the most cost-effective, Neal Dave, PharmD, the executive director of pharmacy at Texas Oncology, explains.

After a delay caused by a manufacturing shift, Formycon and Bioeq are back on track with their ranibizumab biologics license application (BLA), and their partner Coherus BioSciences is aligned for US commercialization.

Amgen reported a strong increase in biosimilar sales for the year but said competition is forcing down prices and affecting revenues for its originator products, too.

A supply chain shortage of Avastin (bevacizumab) is prompting policies for use of bevacizumab biosimilars instead, which the American Academy of Ophthalmology says could lead to problems.

When it comes to exports, Celltrion Healthcare leads the way among Republic of Korea pharmaceuticals producers. The company's biosimilars are the leading exports.

Pfizer reported strong sales for its biosimilars portfolio, but these were eclipsed by the massive success of the company's mRNA vaccine for COVID-19.

BioFactura looks to join the ustekinumab biosimilar race and Cardinal Health provides an interactive tool with state-by-state interchangeable rules.

Kashyap B. Patel, MD, says value of care is an important metric, but often people lose sight of what patients have to pay out of pocket, and how this affects them.

The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) provides a stepwise approach for fact-finding prior to patent litigation, but companies may choose their own path, case examples show.

Shanghai Henlius Biotech initiates a trial for patients with macular degeneration while Dong-A ST and Meiji Seika Pharma agree on a distribution plan for a ustekinumab biosimilar candidate.

China has approved a product for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn disease that Mabpharm and Sorrento Therapteutics say is an improvement on infliximab.

An advertisement for the Onpro wearable pegfilgrastim injector kit has the potential to undermine sales of biosimilars, the FDA stated in a warning letter.

Panelists at the American Conference Institute's 2021 meeting took on the complexities of biosimilar adoption in a wide-ranging discussion.

Chong Kun Dang of the Republic of Korea has entered a licensing deal for the distribution of a darbepoetin alfa biosimilar in the Gulf region.

Biosimilars are launching at significant discounts to reference products and capturing increasing market share, according to an Amgen report.