Kelly Davio


Samsung Bioepis' Trastuzumab Biosimilar Gains European Marketing Authorization

November 20, 2017

Samsung Bioepis announced today that it has received the European Commission's (EC) marketing authorization for its biosimilar trastuzumab, SB3, for the treatment of early breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, and metastatic gastric cancer. SB3 is the first biosimilar trastuzumab, referenced on Roche’s blockbuster Herceptin, to receive European regulatory approval.

An Industry Perspective on Biosimilar Interchangeability

November 17, 2017

In a Thursday session of the SMi Biosimilars North America 2017 conference, Cindy Cao, PhD, executive director and head of United States regulatory affairs at Sandoz, looked ahead to the advent of interchangeable biosimilars.

Originator Biologics Manufacturers "Bi-Vest" in Biosimilars

November 16, 2017

Mkaya Mwamburi, MD, PhD, MA, president and CEO of the biotechnology consulting firm profecyINTEL, said in a presentation at the 2017 SMi Biosimilar North America conference that manufacturers of originator biologics are taking the lead on biosimilar development.

Biosimilar Uptake Hinges on Prescriber, Patient, and Payer

November 16, 2017

In a Wednesday session of the SMi Biosimilars North America 2017 conference, Gary Cupit, PharmD, senior advisor to the investment bank Frontcourt Group, gave biosimilar manufacturers his perspective on the market access challenges facing biosimilar developers.

Learning From the Norwegian Experience With Biosimilars

November 16, 2017

Steinar Madsen, MD, medical director of the Norwegian Medicines Agency, shared lessons learned from the Norwegian experience with biosimilars in a Wednesday talk at the SMi Biosimilars North America conference.

Mylan Head Warns of "Whisper Campaign" Against Biosimilars

November 16, 2017

At a Wednesday session of the SMi Biosimilars North America conference, Chrys Kokino, MBA, head of Mylan’s global biologics commercial division, said that biosimilars can be part of improving access to and affordability of biologic therapies for patients worldwide, but also highlighted the hurdles that biosimilar developers will have to overcome as they seek to gain a foothold in the US marketplace.

Survey: "No-Deal" Brexit Will Take a Toll on Medicine Availability

November 14, 2017

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations has released the results of a survey it conducted among its membership into how patient access to medicines could suffer after the United Kingdom exits the European Union.

South Centre Report Calls for "Biological Generics"

November 14, 2017

The South Centre, an intragovernmental organization of developing nations headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, has issued a new report on biosimilars that calls on regulatory bodies to institute an approval pathway for “biological generics” in favor of biosimilars.

Biosimilar Bevacizumab ABP 215 Gains Positive CHMP Opinion

November 11, 2017

Drug makers Amgen and Allergan announced on Friday that the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion on ABP 215, the companies’ bevacizumab biosimilar. CHMP recommended the biosimilar for approval for the treatment of multiple cancer indications.