Biosimilars

Alvotech Petitions US FDA To Deny Interchangeability For Rival Stelara Biosimilars

Alvotech Petitions US FDA To Deny Interchangeability For Rival Stelara Biosimilars

 
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In a citizen petition to the FDA, Alvotech has called on the US agency to refrain from approving as interchangeable certain Stelara biosimilars that use a different cell line to its own ustekinumab product – including the Pyzchiva version set to be brought to market by Samsung Bioepis and Sandoz.

Inflation Continues To Rear Head At US FDA User Fees

Inflation Continues To Rear Head At US FDA User Fees

 

Inflation accounted for a larger portion of user fee revenue target increases for fiscal year 2025, compared to previous years, according to a Pink Sheet analysis.

Days After US Aflibercept Approval, Sandoz Is Hit By Regeneron Lawsuit

Days After US Aflibercept Approval, Sandoz Is Hit By Regeneron Lawsuit

 
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Days after Sandoz received US FDA approval for its Enzeevu aflibercept biosimilar, Regeneron sued alleging that Sandoz failed to follow the “patent dance” set out in the BPCIA framework and claiming infringement of multiple patents on its Eylea.

Regeneron’s Linvoseltamab CRL Underlines Risks Of Third-Party Manufacturers

Regeneron’s Linvoseltamab CRL Underlines Risks Of Third-Party Manufacturers

 

The bispecific antibody is the latest example of a growing number of biologics receiving complete response letters related to third-party manufacturing facilities.


Facility Deficiencies Drive Rising CRL Rates For CDER Biologics

Facility Deficiencies Drive Rising CRL Rates For CDER Biologics

 

A US FDA analysis found that facility inspection issues were the fastest growing factor in the recent rise of complete response letters for biologics licensing applications, in part reflecting the limitations of single-product inspections at contract facilities manufacturing multiple products.

EU Biosimilar Filings, Opinions And Approvals

EU Biosimilar Filings, Opinions And Approvals

 
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A list of EU biosimilar filings, CHMP opinions and EU marketing authorizations, including details of the biosimilar company, the brand name/INN, indication(s), the reference product/company, and the date and type of event.

US FDA Corrects Errors, Limits PDUFA Application Fee Increase

US FDA Corrects Errors, Limits PDUFA Application Fee Increase

 

The agency used a 10-year average with updated figures to calculate the FY 2025 PDUFA application fee and limit the impact of submission volatility, but still allowed GDUFA and BsUFA fees to skyrocket.

Product-Specific or Class-Specific Biosimilar Guidances? US FDA Wants Feedback

Product-Specific or Class-Specific Biosimilar Guidances? US FDA Wants Feedback

 

The FDA’s experience with product-specific guidances for generic drugs may impact biosimilar industry decision-making, but the program has improved in recent years.


Brand-Backed ASBM Pushes Back On Biosimilar Reforms

Brand-Backed ASBM Pushes Back On Biosimilar Reforms

 
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The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines urged restraint when considering FDA findings suggesting switching studies may not be as vital to support interchangeability.

Off-Patent Group Trio Aims To Secure Transatlantic Drug Supply

Off-Patent Group Trio Aims To Secure Transatlantic Drug Supply

 

Three off-patent associations from both sides of the Atlantic want to strengthen their collaborative synergies and secure the supply of generics and biosimilars.

EMA And Commission Correct Altuvoct, Celldemic, Lytenava Active Substance Status Discrepancies

EMA And Commission Correct Altuvoct, Celldemic, Lytenava Active Substance Status Discrepancies

 
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Lytenava, Outlook Therapeutics’ ophthalmic version of bevacizumab for wet AMD, has been given the INN bevacizumab gamma, but it is not a new active substance, the EU authorities have confirmed.

Medicines Patent Pool Calls For Equitable Access To Infectious Disease mAbs

Medicines Patent Pool Calls For Equitable Access To Infectious Disease mAbs

 

In a joint proposal with its partners, the Medicines Patent Pool explores challenges in monoclonal antibody equity in low- and middle-income countries and provides actionable solutions to increase development and manufacturing.


Congress Pushes US FDA On Trial Diversity, Accelerated Approval In Approps Report

Congress Pushes US FDA On Trial Diversity, Accelerated Approval In Approps Report

 

The House Appropriations Committee indicates in fiscal year 2025 appropriations report language that lawmakers will closely monitor the FDA’s implementation of clinical trial diversity action plans. 

‘We Tried It, It Does Not Work’ – The Problems With The EU’s SPC Manufacturing Waiver

‘We Tried It, It Does Not Work’ – The Problems With The EU’s SPC Manufacturing Waiver

 
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While the European supplementary protection certificate manufacturing waiver was once seen as a triumph for the region’s off-patent industry, concerns are now being raised over how the mechanism is implemented. Attendees at Medicines for Europe’s legal affairs conference in Dublin last week heard the latest.

Biosimilars: US FDA Heralds The End Of Switching Studies For Interchangeability

Biosimilars: US FDA Heralds The End Of Switching Studies For Interchangeability

 
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New guidance suggests that switching studies will no longer be expected as standard to support determinations of biosimilar interchangeability; instead, analytical and clinical data may suffice.

Italy Probes Alleged Antitrust Deal Over Biosimilar Version Of Eye Drug Lucentis

Italy Probes Alleged Antitrust Deal Over Biosimilar Version Of Eye Drug Lucentis

 
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Did Samsung Bioepis and Biogen choose early US access for their Lucentis biosimilar in exchange for postponing launch in other markets? That’s what Italy’s competition authority believes, as it investigates the biosimilar sponsors and originator companies Genentech and Novartis.


US FDA’s Yim Hints At Revisiting Biosimilar Suffix Naming Convention, Reassures On Immunogenicity

US FDA’s Yim Hints At Revisiting Biosimilar Suffix Naming Convention, Reassures On Immunogenicity

 
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In an ‘ask me anything’ Q&A on Reddit, Sarah Yim, director of US FDA’s Office of Therapeutic Biologics and Biosimilars, offered some insights on the US biologics naming convention, biosimilar interchangeability, and the possibility of future competition on cell and gene therapies.

EU Biosimilar Filings, Opinions And Approvals

EU Biosimilar Filings, Opinions And Approvals

 
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A list of EU biosimilar filings, CHMP opinions and EU marketing authorizations, including details of the biosimilar company, the brand name/INN, indication(s), the reference product/company, and the date and type of event.

Pink Sheet Podcast: US FDA Biosimilar Strategy, Gene Therapy Accelerated Approvals, FDA v. Partisan Politics

Pink Sheet Podcast: US FDA Biosimilar Strategy, Gene Therapy Accelerated Approvals, FDA v. Partisan Politics

 
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Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss the impact of FDA biosimilar promotion guidance on the future of the interchangeability designation, upcoming guidance on accelerated approval for gene therapies, and partisan attacks on the agency from Capitol Hill.

Rx Advertising: Interchangeability Doesn’t Mean Clinical Superiority To Other Biosimilars, FDA Says

Rx Advertising: Interchangeability Doesn’t Mean Clinical Superiority To Other Biosimilars, FDA Says

 

Updated draft guidance on promotion of biologic reference products, biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars offers another indication of the US’s push to do away with the interchangeability designation.