On November 8, 2021, Bio-Thera Solutions, Ltd. announced that China’s National Medical Products Administration has accepted the marketing authorization application for BAT1806, a biosimilar of Roche’s Actemra® (tocilizumab), which is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R). Actemra® has been approved in the United States for the…
In their respective third quarter financial results, Amgen and Pfizer both announced plans to seek interchangeable status for select biosimilars. Amgen announced that patients are currently being enrolled in Phase 3 studies to support interchangeability designation in the U.S. for biosimilars of AMJEVITA (adalimumab) and ABP 654 (ustekinumab). Pfizer also…
Last week, Coherus and Junshi Biosciences announced that the FDA accepted their BLA for toripalimab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (“NPC”) and toripalimab monotherapy for the second-line or above treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC after…
This week, three development programs announced updates to their ranibizumab biosimilars. Ranibizumab is the active ingredient in Genentech’s LUCENTIS, which is indicated for retinal vascular disorders, including neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). On June 25, 2021, Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. (“Samsung Bioepis”) and Biogen Inc. (“Biogen”) announced that the…
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…
On Thursday Theramex announced that it has entered into an agreement to register and commercialize denosumab, a biosimilar of Enzene Bioscience’s Prolia®, which treats osteoporosis by decreasing bone absorption. The agreement licenses Theramex to market the drug for use in Europe and Australia. Enzene will exclusively supply the finished product…
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…
Last week, Shanghai Henlius Biotech announced that China’s National Medical Products Administration has approved its adalimumab biosimilar candidate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis. Henlius stated that this is its third biosimilar approval in China, following approval of its rituximab and trastuzumab biosimilar products. Celltrion…
Samsung Biologics’ third quarter report disclosed that it had suspended its research and development of its SAIT101, a biosimilar of Rituxan. As we previously reported, the rituximab product was being developed through Archigen Biotech, a joint venture with AstraZeneca. According to a report in Korea Biomedical Review, a Samsung Biologics…
On October 20, 2020, NeuClone announced that it successfully completed its Phase I clinical trial of NeuLara, its proposed biosimilar of Stelara (ustekinumab). According to Neuclone, the Phase I clinical trial demonstrated similar clinical pharmacokinetics, and safety, immunogenicity and tolerability profiles of NeuLara compared to US- and EU-sourced Stelara. NeuLara…