Rheumatology

The year 2021 proved to be big for biosimilars, with 4 approvals and increased competition, signaling that FDA is shifting some of their focus from the pandemic back to the growing industry.

The study had no explanations for why patients stopped taking biosimilars or switched back to the reference product; authors said this merits further research.

Biogen and Xbrane Biopharma signed a commercialization agreement for Xcimzane, a certolizumab pegol biosimilar referencing Cimzia for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and other rheumatologic conditions.

Health Canada approved biosimilars Brenzys and Erelzi in August 2016 and April 2017, respectively. The study tracked effects of the first phase of the British Columbia Ministry of Health’s Biosimilar Initiative, which required patients to switch to biosimilars starting in May 2019.

The year 2022 “is set to be a turning point” in the United States, as biosimilars are on their way to delivering $133 billion in aggregate savings by 2025, according to Cardinal Health's “2022 Biosimilars Report: The U.S. Journey and Path Ahead.”

The province is the latest jurisdiction to adopt a program that will require patients to switch away from expensive reference biologics to select biosimilars for certain conditions.

Wayne Winegarden, PhD, a senior fellow in business and economics at Pacific Research Institute, discusses how to ensure affordability of adalimumab biosimilars when they enter the market as AbbVie continues to raise the price of the reference product (Humira).

In a deal to sell the 50% ownership stake, Biogen would receive up to $2.3 billion.

US biosimilar uptake faces several barriers, including misconceptions regarding biosimilar efficacy and a misalignment of prescription incentives between payers, providers, and patients, panelists discussed.

Sean McGowan, senior director of Biosimilars for AmerisourceBergen, forecasts potential biosimilar approvals and launches in 2022 as well as offers insights into how emerging biosimilars will impact the market and pricing in the coming years during an interview.

Wayne Winegarden, PhD, a senior fellow in business and economics at Pacific Research Institute, talks about what kind of educational material still needs to be created and which stakeholders are in need of education on the financial benefits of biosimilars.

Wayne Winegarden, PhD, a senior fellow in business and economics at Pacific Research Institute, shared his thoughts on which coverage type he expects will have the most robust biosimilar savings: Medicare, commercial, or military.

The International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association has appointed a veteran member, Vivian Frittelli, MBA, ACIS, to take over as chair.

Ford Motor saved $5 million by switching patients to 5 biosimilars, and other manufacturers and employers in Michigan have achieved good results with switching programs, the Economic Alliance of Michigan reports.

Amgen Chairman and CEO Robert Bradway touted the potential of 11 biosimilars anticipated to be driving revenues for the company by 2030.

In a recent paper, Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD summarizes some of his central ideas on the relevance of FDA biosimilar testing standards.

Simlandi (AVT02) is the second high-concentration, citrate-free adalimumab (Humira) biosimilar to be approved in the Canada market.

Wayne Winegarden, PhD, a senior fellow in business and economics at Pacific Research Institute, discusses his predictions for etanercept and adalimumab biosimilar pricing and why he hopes manufacturers will offer them at large discounts to reference biologics.

In India, an emphasis on outdated biosimilar testing has restricted market entry of these products and discouraged manufacturers, patient advocates contend.

The companies hope to gain FDA approval for a high-concentration, citrate-free version of Hadlima, an adalimumab biosimilar that was approved in a lower concentration in July 2019.

Savings from adalimumab biosimilars, which won't enter the US market until 2023, account for a significant share of the total, investigators said.

Biosimilars have produced more than $20 billion of savings in Europe, but more use of these agents is needed.

The top legal stories in biosimilars over the past year concerned etanercept and adalimumab biosimilars and access to insulin.

With fewer of the risks associated with novel drug development, biosimilar candidates allow manufacturers to plan far into the future for marketing needs.

In Canada, a new jurisdiction inaugurates mandatory switching to biosimilars.

From the approval of the first insulin glargine biosimilar (Semglee) to the potential for extreme biosimilar competition in the adalimumab market, 2021's regulatory stories were popular with readers.

Coherus BioSciences said the 40 mg subcutaneous formulation of adalimumab would be launched on or after July 1, 2023, in agreement with AbbVie, maker of Humira, the reference product.

After an unsuccessful attempt to get an Illinois court to block the distribution of Alvotech's adalimumab candidate, AbbVie has tried again in a new forum.

A trio of regulatory experts discuss the current standing of biosimilar policy in the United States and expectations going forward.

Alvotech has received European Commission (EC) approval to begin marketing its adalimumab biosimliar AVT02, the company announced this week.