BioRationality: FDA Clarification Provides New Indications and Process Change for Biosimilars
September 9th 2024Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, explains the FDA's new guidelines on post-approval changes for biosimilars, emphasizing the processes for reporting modifications, comparability assessments, and the potential for biosimilars to introduce new indications or formulation changes, which could significantly impact their market competitiveness and accessibility.
Promoting Informed Decision-Making Through Biosimilar Awareness
September 8th 2024Ivo Abraham, PhD, RN, University of Arizona Cancer Center, urges stakeholders to provide patient advocacy groups with comprehensive information about specific drugs and drug classes to increase patient understanding of biosimilars and promote informed decision-making.
Survey of Clinicians: Lower Cost of Biosimilars Is the Main Driver of Treatment Choice in IBD
September 7th 2024Researchers surveyed clinicians from 63 countries and found that adalimumab and infliximab biosimilars, primarily chosen for their lower cost, are widely available and have improved access to biologic treatment in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Switching From Originator Etanercept to Biosimilar Version Proves Safe, Effective in RA
September 5th 2024Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who switched from the etanercept originator to a biosimilar exhibited similar disease activity and drug persistence compared with those who remained on the originator, indicating that nonmedical switching does not negatively impact treatment outcomes.
The Role of Coverage Strategies in Biosimilar Market Impact and Cost Savings
September 4th 2024A recent study highlights that although biosimilars have led to significant price reductions, originator products with sole preferred coverage strategies have maintained market share, suggesting that increased biosimilar uptake alone may not fully leverage the market's competitive and cost-saving potential.
Prioritizing Patient-Centered Care in PsA: Key Insights From the 2023 EULAR Guidelines
August 29th 2024The 2023 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) provide an evidence-based treatment strategy, prioritizing conventional and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, including biosimilars, tailored to disease manifestations, with an emphasis on safety, cost-effectiveness, and patient-centered care.
BioRationality: FDA Opens Up Biosimilar Inquiries on Reddit
August 26th 2024Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, urges stakeholders to engage with the FDA on its Reddit forum—where a representative will answer complex biosimilar questions—encourages clearing misconceptions, and advocates for updates to the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act guidelines.
Targeted Incentives Prove Effective in Boosting Adalimumab Biosimilar Uptake in France
August 24th 2024A study comparing 2 different financial incentive programs in France to encourage adalimumab biosimilar use concluded that incentivizing individual clinical units was more effective than incentivizing entire hospitals.
Pure-Play Biosimilar Company Reports 10-Fold Revenue Increase for First Half of 2024
August 22nd 2024Alvotech reported $236 million in revenue for the first 6 months of 2024, a 10-fold increase from the same period the year prior. The new figures come after the company received its first 2 FDA approvals in 2024.
Eye on Pharma: Celltrion, Costco Partnership; Amgen Sues Samsung Bioepis; Denosumab Results
August 21st 2024Celltrion'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.
CMS Announces New Drug Prices Under the IRA, Including for Stelara and Enbrel
August 19th 2024CMS announced negotiated prices for 10 drugs under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), sparking mixed reactions, with concerns that including drugs facing imminent biosimilar competition could hinder market access to lower-cost alternatives.
Patent Dance Insights: A Q&A on Reducing Legal Battles in the Biosimilar Landscape
August 18th 2024In an interview, Ha Kung Wong, an intellectual property attorney, explained that the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 provides a structured but optional "patent dance" for biosimilars, which helps streamline patent disputes, potentially reducing litigation and encouraging early settlements.
No Differences in Long-Term Drug Survival Between Biosimilar, Originator TNF Inhibitors
August 15th 2024An analysis of subcutaneous biosimilar and originator tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors for rheumatic diseases found no significant differences in survival or discontinuation rates due to inefficacy or adverse events, with biosimilars showing lower overall discontinuation rates and higher retention rates.
BioRationality: Bill to Remove Double Patenting That Harms Biosimilars Heads to the House
August 12th 2024Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, argues that the S-150 bill, also known as the "Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act of 2023," aims to reduce drug prices by addressing anti-competitive practices, such as patent thickets and product hopping, which hinder the entry of cheaper biosimilars and generics into the market.
Bridging Clinical Practice, Health Economics for Improved Patient Access
August 11th 2024Ivo Abraham, PhD, RN, University of Arizona Cancer Center, focused on the cost savings generated by biosimilars and how crucial reinvesting those savings into broader patient access to care is. This approach has the potential to improve health care equity and expand treatment options for patients.
AI and Biosimilars: Bridging Global Health Disparities and Enhancing Treatment Efficiency
August 10th 2024Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can support global health systems in integrating biosimilars into care models, reducing health care costs, enhancing treatment decision-making strategies, and narrowing the gap between high-income and low- and middle-income countries.