Biosimilars grabbed a lot of headlines in 2023, thanks to the biggest U.S. biosimilar launch to date targeting Abbvie Inc.’s mega-blockbuster Humira (adalimumab). Eight biosimilars referencing the immunology drug entered the U.S. market under licensing agreements with Abbvie. Amgen Inc.’s Amjevita led the pack with a five-month headstart in January. The others – including the first adalimumab interchangeable, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH’s Cyltezo – launched in July.
With the clock ticking down on 2023, the U.S. FDA seems to be scurrying to push final guidances out the door before the new year. This week, the agency has finalized several guidances, ranging from the use of digital health technology in clinical trials to the use of real-world data (RWD) in drug development.
With the clock ticking down on 2023, the U.S. FDA seems to be scurrying to push final guidances out the door before the new year. This week, the agency has finalized several guidances, ranging from the development of monoclonal antibodies to treat or prevent COVID-19 to the use of real-world data in drug development.
Nearly four years after the COVID-19 pandemic closed government offices and sent federal employees home to work remotely, the U.S. FDA is returning to some semblance of normalcy, with its drug and biologics centers expanding in-person face-to-face industry meetings to include all PDUFA and BsUFA meeting types, beginning Jan. 22.
Given the challenges of generating chemistry, manufacturing and control information on the compressed timelines used in the EMA’s Priority Medicines scheme and the U.S. FDA’s breakthrough therapy designation program, the two regulators published a joint question-and-answer document discussing quality and good manufacturing practice aspects of applications for both programs, which are aimed at speeding development of innovative products to address unmet medical needs.
In an effort to standardize prescription practices across Canada, help Canadians afford their medicines and improve access to health data, the government is investing an additional $89.5 million over the next five years to establish the Canadian Drug Agency.
With the use of artificial intelligence (AI) increasing in both biopharma R&D and the regulatory science used to evaluate new drug candidates in member states, the EMA and Heads of Medicines Agencies have laid out a five-year workplan to ensure that the European medicines regulatory network remains at the forefront in benefiting from AI in medicines regulation.
Both Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel, exa-cel) and Bluebird Bio Inc.’s Lyfgenia (lovotibeglogene autotemcel, lovo-cel) received U.S. FDA approval Dec. 8, providing 16,000 American sickle cell patients who have recurring vaso-occlusive events with access to the first cell-based gene therapies.
After a nine-month review, the Biden administration is preparing to go where all other U.S. administrations have refused to trod. In releasing a draft framework to help federal agencies decide whether to exercise a federal march-in on patent rights protecting taxpayer-supported drugs and other inventions, including medical devices.
