Ophthalmology

Successfully integrating biosimilars into practices requires careful planning and execution, as they impact virtually all aspects of a practice.

Three players in the biosimilar space have already sparked hope for the new year, with each having big business or regulatory announcements regarding new biosimilar products in Europe and Canada.

When compared with reference aflibercept, a biosimilar ranibizumab was a clinically effective and cost-saving alternative in a study assessing Japanese patients with different subtypes of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

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.

Biosimilar launches achieve a 53% market share and a 53% reduction in average drug costs after 5 years of biosimilar competition, according to Samsung Bioepis’ most recent market report, showcasing notable pricing trends and market share disparities across therapeutic areas.

The phase 3 trial showed biosimilar CT-P42 (Celltrion) is therapeutically equivalent to reference aflibercept in improving visual acuity in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), with comparable efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity at 24 weeks, with more long-term data expected.

The 2024 surge in FDA approvals for aflibercept biosimilars reflects significant progress in offering cost-effective treatments for retinal conditions like neovascular age-related macular degeneration, although patent disputes pose challenges to their market entry and adoption.

The study highlights the safety, efficacy, and cost benefits of infliximab biosimilars in managing pediatric noninfectious uveitis, showing fewer disease flares and reduced costs compared with reference infliximab, as well as the influence of insurance mandates on treatment decisions.

The study findings demonstrate that the aflibercept biosimilar MYL-1701P is as effective and safe as the reference aflibercept in treating diabetic macular edema (DME), offering a promising option for reducing treatment costs and improving global access to care for patients with DME.

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.

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.

Adalimumab biosimilars have seen a significant increase in market share, from 2% in early 2024 to 22%, as payers and pharmacy benefit managers begin to prioritize these biosimilars over the reference product, Humira.

The FDA approved a new strength of a trastuzumab biosimilar; UnitedHealth will remove reference adalimumab from some preferred drug lists in favor of biosimilars and Evernorth will offer an interchangeable ustekinumab biosimilar at no cost to patients; Samsung Bioepis received a positive regulatory opinion for its aflibercept biosimilar.

Amgen’s Pavblu (aflibercept-ayyh) is the fifth biosimilar referencing Eylea (aflibercept) to be approved for American patients with retinal diseases.

Biosimilar CT-P42 demonstrated comparable efficacy, safety, and tolerability to reference aflibercept in treating diabetic macular edema (DME).

The FDA approved Sandoz’ Enzeevu, the fourth aflibercept biosimilar to be approved for Americans with age-related macular degeneration and other retinal eye diseases.

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.

The FDA has approved Ahzantive (aflibercept-mrbb) as the third biosimilar referencing Eylea (aflibercept) for the treatment of eye conditions, including age-related macular degeneration.

Alvotech and Teva have launched Simlandi in the US; Xbrane Biopharma and STADA Arzneimitel partner with Valorum Biologics to bring a ranibizumab biosimilar to the US; Boehringer Ingelheim and Celltrion take steps to expand access to their respective adalimumab biosimilars.

The FDA approved the first 2 biosimilars referencing Eylea (aflibercept)—Yesafili (aflibercept-jbvf) and Opuviz (aflibercept-yszy)—for the treatment of ophthalmic conditions.

In its earnings report for the fourth quarter and full year of 2023, Coherus Biosciences detailed its rising revenue growth, which it partly attributed to increased sales for its pegfilgrastim and ranibizumab biosimilars.

Biocon Biologics settled with the maker of Eylea (aflibercept), announcing a launch date for its biosimilar competitor in Canada; Sandoz has officially acquired Cimerli, a ranibizumab biosimilar; AARP Medicare Rx from United Healthcare has added Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm) and removed the originator (Humira) from its formulary.

A Chinese phase 3 trial found biosimilar QL1207 to be as effective and safe as reference aflibercept (Eylea) for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

In its annual biosimilars report, Cardinal Health provided updates on how provider acceptance growth, evolving payer dynamics, and the growing pipeline for biosimilars will shape the biosimilar landscape over the next 5 years.

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.

A study found SB15, an aflibercept biosimilar, is just as effective as its reference drug Eylea, the current standard treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), a condition that causes vision loss.

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.

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.

Samsung Bioepis’ Biosimilar Market Report for the first quarter of 2024 chronicles some major market trends, including which treatment spaces have quicker uptake than others, highlighting missed opportunities for savings as well as the 1-year experience of adalimumab biosimilar competition in the US.

The IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science’s most recent Global Use of Medicines report projected that market introductions of new biosimilar and generic drugs will increase projected losses for originator products from $111 billion to $192 billion over the next 5 years.