Author byline as per print journal: Peter J Pitts, BA; Michael S Reilly, Esq Abstract: The World Health Organization should finalize its Biological Qualifier guidance. Distinguishable naming will allow quick and accurate tracing of the manufacturer, should adverse events occur and improve patient safety by reducing confusion and mishaps. This will ensure that developing nations, including…

Author(s): Michael S Reilly, Esq, Peter J Pitts, BA

Biological Qualifier (BQ), biosimilar, INN, medicines regulation, MENA (Middle East and North Africa)

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0703.021

Editor's Letter

Published on 03 December 2018

Latest features in GaBI Journal, 2018, Issue 3

This third issue of GaBI Journal in 2018 contains manuscripts which discuss a number of important, post-marketing, ‘real world’ generic and biosimilar medicinal product issues. In a Commentary, Pitts and Reilly discuss why they believe that unique product names are needed for both generics and biosimilar medicinal products. They discuss the need for consideration of…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0703.020

Submitted: 6 May 2018; Revised: 7 May 2018; Accepted: 8 May 2018; Published online first: 18 May 2018 Data and market exclusivity for originator medicines in the European Union (EU) create a barrier to market entry for generic medicines. Legislation means that generics cannot reach the market for at least 10 years following the originator…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0702.019

Abstract: Biosimilar drugs have suffered slow entrance and acceptance rates in the US market, due not only to common misperceptions among the public but also US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensing laws. This review offers nine major recommendations for the FDA to simplify how biosimilars are licensed and thus make biosimilars more accessible to…

Author(s): Adjunct Professor Sarfaraz K Niazi, PhD, SI, FRSB, FPAMS, FACB

analytical similarity, biosimilars, immunogenicity testing, pharmacokinetic profiling

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0702.018

Abstract: Biosimilar medicines are having a global effect, and as such regulatory agencies worldwide are assessing how to respond to them. Here, two events held by GaBI for the Colombian medicines regulatory agency (INVIMA) are reported. The first was an educational workshop held in 2016 to discuss approaches to evaluating biosimilar products and the second…

Author(s): Elaine Gray, PhD, Paul Matejtschuk, PhD, CChem, Robin Thorpe, PhD, FRCPath

biologicals, biosimilars, Colombia, quality assessment, regulatory

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0702.017

Author byline as per print journal: Rana Musa Ali Al-ali “Malkawi”, MSc; Wesal Salem Al Haqaish, BPharm; Hayel Obeidat, MD Abstract: The regulatory oversight of medicinal products in Jordan is the responsibility of the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA). In 2015, JFDA adopted biosimilar guidelines, which are similar to those used by the European…

Author(s): Hayel Obeidat, MD, Rana Musa Ali Al-ali “Malkawi”, MSc, Wesal Salem Al-haqaish, BPharm

biological, biosimilar, EMA, INN, Jordan FDA, regulation

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0702.016

Abstract: The first draft guidelines for copy biologicals were introduced in China back in 2014. The Technical Guideline was then updated and finalized in 2015. In this paper, how the Drug Registration Regulation (2007) pathway classifies therapeutic biologicals and the principles and challenges of the copy biologicals guideline are described. Submitted: 3 May 2018; Revised:…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

biological, China, copy biological, regulation

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0702.015

Author byline as per print journal: Steven Simoens, PhD; Claude Le Pen, PhD; Niels Boone, PharmD; Ferdinand Breedveld, MD, PhD; Antonella Celano; Antonio Llombart-Cussac, MD, PhD; Frank Jorgensen, MPharm, MM; Andras Süle, PhD; Ad A van Bodegraven, MD, PhD; Rene Westhovens, MD, PhD; Jo De Cock Introduction/Objectives: This manuscript aims to provide guidance to policymakers with…

Author(s): Ad A van Bodegraven, MD, PhD, Andras Süle, PhD, Antonella Celano, Antonio Llombart Cussac, MD, PhD, Frank Jorgensen, MPharm, MM, Jo De Cock, Niels Boone, PharmD, Professor Claude Le Pen, PhD, Professor Ferdinand Breedveld, MD, PhD, Rene Westhovens, MD, PhD, Steven Simoens, MSc, PhD

biologicals, biosimilars, competition, Europe, policy, sustainability

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0702.014

Abstract: High resolution analytical techniques reveal structural micro-heterogeneity within endogenous proteins, however, they are ‘seen’ as ‘self’ molecules by the immune system and immunological tolerance is established. In contrast the protein biotherapeutics are produced in non-human cells and multiple downstream protocols are employed in the isolation and purification of drug product; consequent micro-heterogeneities may be…

Author(s): Professor Roy Jefferis, PhD, DSc, MRCP, FRCPath

allotypes, erythropoietin, human IgG, idiotypes, immunogenicity, polymorphisms, post-translational modifications, structural heterogeneity

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0702.013

Author byline as per print journal: Magaly Perez-Nieves1, MPH, PhD; Robyn K Pollom1, ANP; Ran Duan1, PhD; Samaneh Kabul1, PharmD; Amy M DeLozier1, MPH; Puneet Kaushik2, MPharm; Liza L Ilag1, MD Background: This analysis evaluates the patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in two randomized studies of biosimilar LY2963016 insulin glargine (LY IGlar) and Lantus® insulin glargine (IGlar),…

Author(s): Amy M DeLozier, MPH, Liza L Ilag, MD, Magaly Perez-Nieves, MPH, PhD, Puneet Kaushik, MPharm, Ran Duan, PhD, Robyn K Pollom, ANP, Samaneh Kabul, PharmD

biosimilar, follow-on biological, glargine, patient-reported outcomes, type 1 diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0702.012

Abstract: The Opinion article of Niazi urges the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make adjustments to its guidance on biosimilar development. This article comments on some of the proposals from a global perspective, including the global reference product and the biosimilar comparability programme. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has stated that the biosimilar market…

Author(s): Adjunct Professor Pekka Kurki, MD, PhD

automatic substitution, FDA guidelines, global reference product, information, interchangeability, regulatory harmonization

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0702.011

Editor's Letter

Published on 27 August 2018

What to look forward to in GaBI Journal, 2018, Issue 2

The second issue of the 2018 GaBI Journal volume is being published at a time of increasing uncertainty concerning trade, tariffs, regulations as well as international and even inter-ally co-operation. This issue contains manuscripts discussing some changes which are either being asked for, or which are already occurring, with the potential to increase the global…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0702.010