In honor of Women’s History Month, Big Molecule Watch continues to highlight the work of women who have contributed to the advancement of biologics and biosimilars. One such individual is Emer Cooke, who is the first woman to occupy the role of Executive Director of EMA and to lead that…
On March 29, Samsung Bioepis announced the launch of its adalimumab biosimilar HadlimaTM, referencing AbbVie’s HumiraTM, in Australia in partnership with Merck & Co. HadlimaTM is approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, adult and paediatric Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, hidradenitis suppurativa and…
On March 17, 2021, Merck announced that it had filed a Form 10 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in order to spinoff its women’s health, biosimilars and established brands businesses into a standalone, publicly traded company, named Organon. Merck explained that Organon’s vision is to “create…
On March 10, Lannett announced that it received feedback from the FDA regarding its insulin glargine biosimilar. Lannett sought and received comments from the FDA concerning the protocol and statistical analysis plan to be used in the pivotal clinical trial for the product. Lannett reported that it incorporated this feedback…
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN) Oncology Research Program (ORP) in collaboration with Pfizer announced this week a list of ten selected organizations and their research projects that have been chosen to receive funding to study the safe, effective, and efficient adoption of biosimilars in oncology: American Society of Clinical…
This month, a working group within the Pharmacy Directors Forum of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has reviewed and highlighted “some of the potential challenges regarding adopting biosimilars into clinical practice,” making “several recommendations for the safe and efficient use of biosimilar medications in the clinical setting.” The group…
In honor of Women’s History Month, Big Molecule Watch will highlight the work of women who have contributed to the advancement of biologics and biosimilars. One such individual is Janet Woodcock, current acting Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and director for Drug Evaluation and Research, who has held a number…
The Senate passed a bill (S. 164) earlier this month (on March 3, 2021) “[t]o educate health care providers and the public on biosimilar biological products, and for other purposes.” The proposed “Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act of 2021” would add a section to the Public Health Service Act on…
Last week the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in UFCW Local 1500 Welfare Fund v. AbbVie Inc., Case No. 20-2402. The appeal concerns the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois’ dismissal of a proposed class action alleging that AbbVie, Inc. created a “patent thicket”…
On March 1, 2021, Formycon announced that it plans to resubmit its BLA for its Lucentis® Biosimilar Candidate FBY201 (ranibizumab) in the first half of 2021. Formycon expects to submit its application to the EMA soon thereafter, and will also seek approval in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Switzerland….