If the U.S. FDA has its way, biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars would no longer be a difference with a distinction – at least when it comes to labeling. Instead of distinguishing between the two, the agency is recommending that the labeling for both follow-ons include a “biosimilarity statement.”
Mirati Therapeutics Inc.’s cancer treatment Krazati (adagrasib) is having a tough time outside the U.S. The EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) came out with a negative opinion on an MAA for treating KRAS G12C-mutated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The ruling came with a flurry of positive CHMP opinions for companies, including Abbvie Inc., Beigene Ltd. and the Janssen Pharmaceutical Cos., plus a mixed result for Ipsen SA after a stumble earlier this week.
Nearly 13 years after Congress created a biosimilars path to bring competition to the U.S. biologics market, new rules of the road are coming into play, via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), that could change the course for biosimilars in the long haul – if the IRA’s prescription drug price negotiation mandate withstands numerous constitutional challenges.
One of the companies wanting to be part of the upcoming U.S. launch of Humira biosimilars is instead exploring options to raise additional capital so it can continue advancing its biosimilar pipeline in the near term. Alvotech Holdings SA, a pure-play biosimilars company based in Iceland, initially had hoped for FDA approval June 28 for AVT-02, developed as both an interchangeable and biosimilar to the high-concentration formulation (HCF) of Abbvie Inc.’s blockbuster autoimmune drug, Humira (adalimumab).
With the biggest biosimilar launch in the U.S. just days away, Humira’s (adalimumab) record-breaking ride is quickly slowing down, but the Abbvie Inc. mega-blockbuster immunology drug is nowhere near the end of its road. Meanwhile, the U.S. journey is just beginning for the eight adalimumab biosimilars that could come to market as early as July 1 through licensing agreements with Abbvie. Besides revving their engines against Humira, the new launches will be looking to overtake Amgen Inc.’s biosimilar, Amjevita, which got a five-month headstart in the U.S., thanks to the first-mover status Amgen earned for being the first to sign a licensing agreement with Abbvie.
It didn’t take long for the filing of a second constitutional challenge to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act’s price negotiations for prescription drugs. In the wake of a similar suit filed three days earlier by Merck & Co. Inc., the Chamber of Commerce filed a complaint June 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
Researchers at Abbvie Inc. and Calico Life Sciences LLC have described protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors, particularly tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2; TCPTP) and/or PTPN1 (PTP-1B), reported to be useful for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Five months after the first anti-CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody, Roche Holding AG’s Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab), cleared U.S. FDA approval for follicular lymphoma, partners Genmab A/S and Abbvie Inc. won the agency’s approval for epcoritamab as the first subcutaneous CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody for treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
In its first markup of the 118th Congress May 2, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, under the new leadership of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), devolved into a brief mutiny of sorts as the committee members started to take up four bipartisan bills aimed at taming prescription drug prices.
