Latest Conference Articles

Teva's Schultz Sees Stability Ahead for US Biosimilar, Generic Marketplace

Mary Caffrey

January 15 2020

The leading generic drug manufacturer launched Truxima, a biosimilar for rituximab, in November 2019 at a 10% discount to the reference product, Rituxan.

Gilead Touts New Products in Revamped Growth Strategy

Tony Hagen

January 15 2020

Gilead Science’s new chairman and chief executive officer outlined a growth plan this week at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, California.

Studies Report on Switching, Tolerability, and Infection Risk With Biosimilar Infliximab

Kelly Davio

November 14 2019

As the only anti–tumor necrosis factor therapies currently available to US patients with inflammatory diseases, biosimilars of infliximab are increasingly used to treat diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. While there are a wealth of data on real-world use of these products in territories like the European Union, less research has examined their use in the United States. During the American College of Rheumatology’s 2019 meeting, held this week in Atlanta, Georgia, researchers reported on the results of 3 studies that assessed real-world use of biosimilar infliximab in the US context.

Biologics Show Similar Efficacy in Older Patients as in Younger, No Matter When RA Begins

Allison Inserro

November 14 2019

The lead author said the results indicate that biologics can be used in older patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as effectively as in those who are younger.

Newly Presented Data on SB4 Show Successful Switches, Safe Use, and No Evidence of Nocebo

Kelly Davio

November 13 2019

While US patients continue to wait for a biosimilar etanercept to become commercially available, real-world data continue to amass for Samsung Bioepis’ biosimilar, SB4, in European clinical practice. The biosimilar, sold as Benepali in the European context, was the subject of several studies presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology’s 2019 meeting, held in Atlanta, Georgia.

Studies Highlight Real-World Data on GP2015 and Predict Substantial US Cost Savings With Biosimilar Use

Kelly Davio

November 13 2019

Among the first biosimilars to gain US approval was Sandoz’s etanercept biosimilar, GP2015, or Erelzi. The product was authorized by the FDA in 2016, but it has not yet launched in the US market due to long-running patent disputes related to Amgen’s innovator product, Enbrel. In other markets, however, the biosimilar is a widely used treatment option, and data presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s 2019 meeting, held this week in Atlanta, Georgia, show that not only is the biosimilar safe and effective in real-world practice in ex-US markets, but it could also bring about substantial savings in the United States once it becomes available.

Infants Exposed to Tofacitinib In Utero Experience Very Few Serious Infections, Study Says

Allison Inserro

November 13 2019

The results will inform will inform counseling and management of pregnant women with inflammatory diseases who need tofacitinib or non-tumor necrosis factor inhibitors during pregnancy, said the author.

Looking to the Future, Biosimilar Pioneer Celltrion Is Banking on Biobetters

Kelly Davio

November 12 2019

Improvements in biosimilars—ones that may give them an advantage such as lower immunogenicity or a new route of administration—may be the key to unlocking a better patient experience, according to Celltrion. In fact, pursuing such so-called “biobetters” may prove to be more important for the drug maker than pursuing interchangeable biosimilars.

Pharma Panel Grapples With Drug Pricing, Real-World Evidence, and Creating Headroom for Innovative Therapies

Kelly Davio

November 12 2019

During the FT Global Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Conference, held this week in London, United Kingdom, a panel of executives from pharmaceutical companies, together with a scientist whose focus is on economics, discussed the increasingly challenging problem of paying for innovative therapies, particularly in a context of heightened political pressure around high drug costs.

Rising Drug Prices Cited for Most Biologic Spending Growth

Allison Inserro

November 11 2019

Postmarket drug price changes alone accounted for most of the recent spending growth on biologics, and manufacturers’ rebates had little impact, according to an abstract presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s 2019 meeting, being held in Atlanta, Georgia, this week.