Biosimilars

Wezlana is the first biosimilar to reference Stelara approved in the United States. The product will launch in 2025.

The ranibizumab biosimilar was the first in ophthalmology to the US market in 2022, but its competition has already had a year of interchangeability exclusivity.

The results for a proposed aflibercept (Eylea) biosimilar and an accepted ranibizumab (Lucentis) biosimilar were presented at Euretina Congress 2023.

The level of biosimilar market sustainability differs between countries, largely due to variances in biosimilar policies and years of experience managing a biosimilar market.

Posters presented at the EADV Congress highlighted that despite similar efficacy, patient perception can affect satisfaction with the switch from the reference adalimumab to a biosimilar.

Providers have to know how to manage patients who are hesitant to switch to a biosimilar and payers who have specific preferences about which biosimilar to use.

The FDA has approved Tofidence, the first tocilizumab biosimilar in the United States, which will be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Major companies committed to joining Medicare drug price negotiations; Boehringer Ingelheim introduced a low-cost version of its adalimumab biosimilar; schools begin to stock naloxone amid rising opioid deaths among young people.

Drug maker payments to ophthalmologists were associated with the choice of higher-cost therapies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that could increase Medicare costs, but biosimilars could help.

A survey of gastroenterologists, dermatologists, and rheumatologists found Amjevita had the most recognition, followed by Cyltezo, the only interchangeable biosimilar on the US market.

One-fourth of patients who switched to an infliximab biosimilar retransitioned back to the originator, but they were more likely to subsequently discontinue treatment due to an unwanted response after switching back.

A report from the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM) highlighted the value of biosimilars and generics, revealing that lower-cost versions of originator products accumulated $408 billion for the US health care system in 2022.

Cordavis is a new subsidiary from CVS Health Corporation that will work with manufacturers to commercialize and coproduce biosimilars, beginning with an adalimumab product.

Drug spending for products facing generic or biosimilar competition decreased during the same time period.

Biosimilars can improve access to treatment for patients who might not have been able to access biologics previously, explained Laura Wingate, executive vice president, Education, Support, & Advocacy, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

The Biden administration has released the first 10 drugs subject to price negotiation with Medicare under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and among those chosen were Stelara (ustekinumab) and Enbrel (etanercept), both of which will face biosimilar competition within the next decade.

The FDA has approved the first biosimilar to treat multiple sclerosis, Sandoz's injection treatment natalizumab-sztn (Tyruko).

Greater attention needs to be on educating patients who are switching from a reference product they are successful on to a biosimilar than a patient who is starting a treatment with a biosimilar at the beginning of their disease journey, explained Laura Wingate, executive vice president, Education, Support, & Advocacy, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

Amjevita’s revenue was down 63% in the second quarter (Q2) compared with the first quarter of 2023, when the biosimilar launched.

There is a right way and a wrong way to inform a patient about a switch from the reference product to a biosimilar, explained Laura Wingate, executive vice president, Education, Support, & Advocacy, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

A white paper crafted by the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM) outlined that main causes of generic drug shortages and recommended several actions for stakeholders to remedy current shortages and prevent future ones.

Despite having 8 adalimumab biosimilars on the market now, patients may only see 1 or 2 available through their insurance, explained Laura Wingate, executive vice president, Education, Support, & Advocacy, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

Even at a steep discount, the list prices of new adalimumab biosimilars are significantly higher than the original price of the originator product (Humira), highlighting how dramatically its list price has risen over the years.

A new analysis finds branded insulin glargine (Lantus) still has a majority of total market volume and new drug starts despite competition from Semglee, an interchangeable biosimilar.

As Humira biosimilars enter the market, patient education about biosimilars is crucial to prevent the nocebo effect when patients switch from the reference product, explained Laura Wingate, executive vice president, Education, Support, & Advocacy, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.

A report from Samsung Bioepis highlighted the positive correlation between biosimilar usage and average sales price discounts, with the oncology space being more price sensitive than other areas.

Two abstracts presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting evaluated biosimilar adoption across oncology practices and highlighted the role payers play in preventing or promoting adoption.

Adam Colborn, JD, director of government relations at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP), also explains what health systems can do to improve patient access to biosimilars.

After 7 years, competition for Humira is here. The first adalimumab biosimilar launched in January, but an additional 8, including an interchangeable product, will hit the US market in July.