On November 20, 2020, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) released a Q&A-format draft guidance to address four questions regarding the submission of biologics license applications (BLAs) and labeling for interchangeable biosimilar products. 85 FR 74345 (“Draft Guidance”). The Q&As in the Draft Guidance will be finalized by adding them as a revision to
Regulatory
Patent Thickets and Regulatory Challenges Cited as Major Factors Limiting Price Reductions in the Biologic Drug Space
The world-wide market share of biologic drugs is advancing at a staggering pace, with some estimates ranging from $ 300 billion to $452 billion in revenue within the next five years.[1],[2],[3] The treatment costs for patients administered biologic drugs are very high relative to historic drug prices. The one year…
How the U.S. Compares to Europe on Biosimilar Approvals and Products In the Pipeline
Updated October 12, 2020
- FDA has only approved two biosimilars in 2020.
- No biosimilars have launched in the U.S. since April 2020.
- EMA approves first Novolog® (insulin aspartate), third and fourth Avastin® (bevacizumab), and sixth Herceptin® (trastuzumab) biosimilars.
As pharmaceutical drug costs attract increasing media attention and political scrutiny, a growing number of biosimilar drugs…
Biosimilar Approvals Stall During COVID-19 Pandemic, But the Pipeline Grows
- FDA has not approved any biosimilars in 2020.
- Two Herceptin® (trastuzumab) biosimilars launch in the U.S. in Q1 2020.
- EMA approves third Enbrel® (etanercept), eleventh Humira® (adalimumab), seventh Rituxan® (rituximab), and second Humalog® (insulin lispro) biosimilars.
- FDA has redefined “Biologic Products” to open new pathways for biosimilar and interchangeable approvals of proteins including insulin.
As…
Recent Developments in Government Protection of Biosimilar Competition
In February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) published a joint statement regarding collaborative efforts to promote competition in the marketplace for biological products – including biosimilars and interchangeable products – by identifying joint goals both agencies will work to achieve, as well as measures to be taken…
2019 Ends and 2020 Begins with a Flurry of Biosimilar Activity in East Asian Markets
A white paper released in 2019 by The Biosimilars Forum and Medicines for Europe shows the United States and Europe accounting for more than a combined 80% of sales of biologic medicines, and more than a combined 90% of biosimilars.[1] This, of course, has led to a focus on these markets for the biopharmaceutical…
U.S. Biosimilar Launches Accelerate with Five Launches in Q4 2019 and early 2020
- Since November 2019, biosimilar versions of pegfilgrastim, rituximab, bevacizumab, and trastuzumab have launched in the United States.
- FDA approved fifth Humira® (adalimumab) biosimilar, but it will not launch until 2023.
- FDA approved third Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) biosimilar and all three have launched.
- FDA approved fourth Remicade® (infliximab) biosimilar.
As pharmaceutical drug costs attract increasing media attention…
FDA Approves Four Biosimilars During Summer 2019 While Europe is on Vacation
- FDA approves fourth Humira® (adalimumab) biosimilar with launch delayed to 2023.
- FDA approves second Rituxan® (rituximab) biosimilar, neither of which has launched.
- FDA approves second Avastin® (bevacizumab) biosimilar, which is expected to launch in late 2019.
- FDA approves fifth Herceptin® (trastuzumab) biosimilar, which launched in July 2019.
- European Medicines Agency has not approved any new
…
U.S. – E.U. Mutual Recognition Agreement Will Reduce Costs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the E.U. European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that Slovakia has beeen added to a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) regarding good manufacturing practice (GMP) inspections in the European Union. Slovakia was the last of the 28 member states of the European Union to be recognized as capable of…
What Pharma Companies Must Do Globally to Benefit From Canada’s Patent Term Extension Framework
Canada implemented its patent term extension program, the Certificate of Supplementary Protection (CSP) framework, on September 21, 2017. The CSP regime is beneficial to qualifying pharmaceutical product developers because it can add up to two additional years of patent protection. Notably, CSP is not as beneficial as other major jurisdictions, which generally allow up to…