The Center for Biosimilars Staff


China Approves Its First Biosimilar, Henlius' Rituximab

February 27, 2019

Regulators in China have approved the country’s first ever biosimilar, a rituximab product referencing Rituxan. The product, HLX01, was developed by Henlius and will be primarily used in the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Regulatory requirements that were applied in the analysis of the drug, say investigators who took part in its development, will set a precedent for analytical similarity assessments of biosimilars in China going forward.

Nurses, Patients Prefer Biosimilar Adalimumab's Autoinjector, Survey Finds

February 26, 2019

A recent study aimed to evaluate patients’ and nurses’ preferences for the autoinjector for a biosimilar adalimumab marketed as Imraldi in the European Union versus autoinjectors of reference adalimumab or reference etanercept.

Ahead of an FDA Decision on Its Pegfilgrastim Biosimilar, Sandoz Sues Amgen

February 26, 2019

This month, biosimilar developer Sandoz filed suit against Amgen, asking the United States district court for the Northern District of California for a declaratory judgment of patent noninfringement and invalidity.

In Treating Patients With IBD Using Anti-TNFs, Clinicians Must Recognize and Manage AEs

February 17, 2019

Originator and biosimilar anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapies are widely used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and are effective in reducing systemic inflammation and thereby reducing tissue damage. While these drugs have revolutionized the treatment of IBD, adverse events (AEs) related to these agents can cause morbidity and mortality, and gastroenterologists must be prepared to recognize and manage these AEs. A recently published review described AEs of particular concern with anti-TNFs and outlined their management.

On the Strength of a Discount and Biosimilar Trastuzumab Savings, NICE Recommends Pertuzumab

February 15, 2019

The United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) today released a final appraisal of pertuzumab (Perjeta) together with intravenous trastuzumab and chemotherapy for the treatment of HER2-positive early breast cancer, and recommended pertuzumab for use in patients if they have lymph node–positive disease and if drug maker Roche adheres to its promised discount for the drug.

As Biosimilars Close In, Innovator Biologic Developers Forge New Strategies

February 14, 2019

As brand-name biologics that have achieved strong sales begin to age, and as biosimilar developers grow closer to gaining approval for and launching their products, innovator biologic developers are taking on new strategies to defend their profits and market share.