On July 20, 2021, after nearly four years of litigation, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Pfizer have agreed to dismiss all claims asserted in the antitrust suit brought by Pfizer in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania regarding Remicade (infliximab). Remicade is an immunosuppressant that is used to treat Crohn’s disease,…
The U.S. health insurance provider Cigna has provided a financial incentive to patients who switch to an infliximab biosimilar, through a one-time $500 debit card for health care services and products called the “Shared Savings Program.” Cigna has promoted this program as a way to promote biosimilar use and reduce…
In March 2021, researchers from Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital published a white paper exploring the link between entry of biosimilars under The Biological Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) and moderation in drug prices driven by market competition. The white paper studied the price and…
On February 18, 2021, the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy published the results of a meta-analysis evaluating the use of infliximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The meta-analysis evaluated patient response rates to treatment with the infliximab reference product REMICADE compared to treatment with infliximab biosimilars. The study’s authors…
Celltrion Healthcare Canada Limited announced yesterday that Health Canada granted a notice of compliance for Remsima SC®, an infliximab biosimilar of J& J’s Remicade®, for the treatment of adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Celltrion Senior Vice President Jovan Antunovic said the company is “delighted to bring the first subcutaneous form…
The results of a survey of board-certified rheumatologists in the United States about their beliefs and knowledge regarding biosimilar products were recently published in the journal Rheumatology. The online survey was conducted in May 2019 and included 19 multiple-choice questions assessing respondents’ knowledge of concepts and terminology concerning biosimilars, availability…
Below are some highlights from third quarter 2020 earnings reports recently released by biologics and biosimilars companies: Biogen reported a decrease in year over year (YoY) revenue of 6% to $3.4 billion, but a 13% increase to $208 million in biosimilar revenue. It reported the following YoY revenue for each…
Below we provide an update on some recent developments from several biosimilar-related cases on appeal before the Federal Circuit. Genentech v. Immunex Rhode Island, Fed. Cir. Case No. 19-2155 – briefing complete in bevacizumab preliminary injunction appeal On January 21, Genentech filed a reply brief in its appeal to the…
Multiple sources are reporting that Celltrion is planning to roll out REMSIMA SC, its subcutaneous infliximab biosimilar of Johnson & Johnson’s autoimmune disease treatment REMICADE, in Europe in the first quarter of 2020, and specifically is targeting a launch in Germany in March, 2020, with launches in the UK and…
Today, the FDA approved Amgen’s AVSOLA (infliximab-axxq), a biosimilar to Janssen’s REMICADE. AVSOLA has the same approved indications label as its reference product. AVSOLA is the third biosimilar to REMICADE to receive FDA approval, after INFLECTRA and RENFLEXIS, and the 26th FDA-approved biosimilar overall.