With at least six others behind it, Amgen Inc.’s Amjevita is leading a 2023 U.S. biosimilars charge to challenge the all-time biggest-selling drug, Humira (adalimumab), from Abbvie Inc. Amjevita hit the U.S. market Jan. 31, and Amgen has the biosimilar priced at two levels, both lower than Humira’s. One is a list price 55% below Humira’s list price of about $115,000 annually and the second is 5% below Humira’s list price. Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Sandoz Inc., Samsung Bioepis Co. Ltd./Organon & Co., Pfizer Inc., Viatris Inc. and Coherus Biosciences Inc. all have biosimilar challengers to Humira that are set to launch in July 2023, all likely to come with a lower price tag than Humira’s.
It is a “landmark moment” in the long-awaited upgrade of the management of clinical research in Europe, but the industry has given a lukewarm welcome to a mandate to submit all clinical trial applications via the EMA’s clinical trials information system, as of Jan. 31.
Alpha Biopharma Ltd. submitted an NDA in China for zorifertinib, a next-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) to treat advanced EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer with central nervous system metastases. Zorifertinib is the first EGFR-TKI to be tested in a clinical study for this patient population, according to the company.
The U.S. FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation to Abbisko Therapeutics Co. Ltd.’s pimicotinib for patients with tenosynovial giant cell tumors who are not able to have surgery.
China’s NMPA granted conditional approvals to two COVID-19 drugs under a special examination and approval procedure aimed at addressing urgent needs. The approvals are both for oral small-molecule drugs for adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infections. One of the approved drugs is Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Ltd.’s Xiannuoxin (simnotrelvir/ritonavir). The other is Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co. Ltd.’s VV-116 (deuremidevir hydrobromide).
China’s National Medical Products Administration is grappling with how to regulate drugs that are sold online as it issued new provisions under the country’s Drug Administration Law that allows prescription drugs to be sold online for the first time.
Citing efforts to “encourage innovation,” China’s National Healthcare Security Administration included 111 new drugs in its National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). The adjustment, shared Jan. 18, 2023, also removed three drugs, leaving the latest NRDL with a total of 2,967 drugs. Most of the newly added drugs are recently approved drugs, with many making it to the market in the last five years. Twenty-three were approved in 2022.
The Australian government has begun its closely watched independent review of the health technology assessment (HTA) process in the country, and it delivered a first peek at what it will consider. This independent review of the HTA system is the first of its kind in nearly 30 years.
The U.S. FDA has lifted the clinical hold on Astellas Pharma Inc.’s Fortis phase I/II trial evaluating AAV gene replacement therapy AT-845 in adults with late-onset Pompe disease.
India’s drug regulatory system is under the lens again after the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest medical product alert on two substandard cough syrups manufactured in the country.
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