Abstract: Biosimilars of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, such as infliximab or etanercept, have recently entered the market. The management of these new products by the healthcare systems differ between European countries, and there may be regional differences within countries. This paper describes prescription structures and approaches to manage the uptake of biosimilars in Germany.…

Author(s): Mathias Flume, MBA, PhD

biosimilar, etanercept, Germany, infliximab, regional management, TNF-α inhibitor

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0503.031

Abstract: The development of biological medicinal products is in rapid growth and as patents for reference products expire, new biosimilar products become available. This has a marked impact on several stakeholders; from patients and physicians to decision-makers, and on activities; from treatment of patients to the conduct of pharmacovigilance. The Danish Medicines Agency (Laegemiddelstyrelsen, DKMA)…

Author(s): Benedicte Lunddahl, DVM

biological medicinal products, biosimilars, national competent authority, pharmacovigilance

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0503.030

Author byline as per print journal: Federico Fontolan1, MA; Silvia Zucconi1, MStat; Carlo Piccinni2, PhD Abstract: In this paper, an overview is provided of the present Italian generic medicines system. Data on generic medicines market share and enterprise performance were reviewed and discussed, and the results of a survey completed by general practitioners (Computer Assisted…

Author(s): Carlo Piccinni, PhD, Federico Fontolan, MA, Silvia Zucconi, MStat

economic sustainability, generic medicines, manufacturing provision, pharmacoeconomics

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0503.029

Abstract: Biological molecules represent a significant portion of therapies utilized in Canada. Biosimilars, also known as subsequent entry biologics (SEBs) in Canada, are highly comparable versions of the originator products. Over the next few years, a number of patents for innovator biologicals will expire in Canada and this creates a tremendous opportunity for the entrance…

Author(s): Eric CK Siu, MSc, PhD, George Wyatt, BSc, MBA

biosimilars, CADTH, Canada, CDR, pCODR, subsequent entry biologics (SEBs)

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0503.028

Author byline as per print journal: Jorge Mestre-Ferrandiz, PhD; Adrian Towse, MA; Mikel Berdud, PhD Abstract: Payers need to think strategically in medium/long term to maximize benefits from biosimilars. Concerns about biosimilars’ interchangeability/substitution (with their reference product) and uncertainty about outcomes act as barriers for their uptake. This paper recommends a policy which provides: (1)…

Author(s): Adrian Towse, MA, Jorge Mestre-Ferrandiz, PhD, Mikel Berdud, PhD

biosimilars, competition, incentives, real world data, savings, value for money

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0503.027

Author byline as per print journal: Jon SB de Vlieger, PhD; Professor Gerrit Borchard, PharmD, PhD; Vinod P Shah, PhD; Beat Flühmann, PhD; Sesha Neervannan, PhD; Professor Stefan Mühlebach, PhD Abstract: Comment on the Regulatory paper by Dr Falk Ehmann and Dr Ruben Pita: The EU is ready for non-biological complex medicinal products, published in…

Author(s): Beat Flühmann, PhD, Jon SB de Vlieger, PhD, Professor Gerrit Borchard, PharmD, PhD, Professor Stefan Mühlebach, PhD, Sesha Neervannan, PhD, Vinod P Shah, PhD

complex drug products, EMA, generics, harmonization, non-biological complex drug (NBCD), therapeutic equivalence, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0503.026

Editor's Letter

Published on 26 October 2016

Latest features in GaBI Journal, 2016, Issue 3

The informed, appropriate use of follow-on pharmacological agents can provide significant cost savings for patients and payers. These savings can then be used by governments and patients to increase access to health care. However, the actual savings realized depend on a complex series of factors including how ‘similar’ the products actually are to the innovator…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0503.025

Author byline as per print journal: Niklas Ekman, PhD; Professor Arnold G Vulto, PharmD, PhD; Paul Cornes, MD Abstract: The increasing cost of medicines was highlighted at the Biosimilar Medicines Group (formerly EBG) satellite symposium at the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists’ 2016 Vienna conference. Using biosimilars as a way to reduce pharmaceutical expenditure was…

Author(s): Niklas Ekman, PhD, Paul Cornes, MD, Professor Arnold G Vulto, PharmD, PhD, FCP

biological, biosimilar, cancer, European Union, healthcare costs, medicines, regulatory

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0502.020

Author byline as per print journal: Vito Annese, MD, PhD; Cristina Avendaño-Solá, MD, PhD; Professor Ferdinand Breedveld, MD; Niklas Ekman, PhD; Thijs J Giezen, MSc, PharmD, PhD; Professor Fernando Gomollón, MD, PhD; Research Professor Pekka Kurki, MD, PhD; Professor Tore Kristian Kvien, MD; Professor Andrea Laslop, MD; Professor Lluís Puig, MD, PhD; Robin Thorpe, PhD, FRCPath;…

Author(s): Adjunct Professor Pekka Kurki, MD, PhD, Cristina Avendaño-Solá, MD, PhD, Elena Wolff-Holz, MD, Martina Weise, MD, Niklas Ekman, PhD, Professor Andrea Laslop, MD, Professor Ferdinand Breedveld, MD, PhD, Professor Fernando Gomollón, MD, PhD, Professor Lluís Puig, MD, PhD, Professor Tore Kristian Kvien, MD, Robin Thorpe, PhD, FRCPath, Thijs J Giezen, PharmD, PhD, MSc, Vito Annese, MD

biologicals/biosimilars, extrapolation, interchangeability, medical societies, prescribers, regulators

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0502.019

Abstract: How to improve the uptake of biosimilars is a question that many countries are finding a challenge. Researchers from the Madrid Health Service investigate how initiatives in Spain have affected biosimilars use. Submitted: 24 March 2016; Revised: 12 May 2016; Accepted: 19 May 2016; Published online first: 1 June 2016 As is the case…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

biological, biosimilar, Spain, uptake

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0502.021

Submitted: 30 June 2016; Revised: 1 July 2016; Accepted: 1 July 2016; Published online first: 4 July 2016 The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) decision to approve the use of CPT-13, an infliximab biosimilar, in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), has proven controversial. In two papers, Professor Fernando Gomollón [1, 2] has reviewed and…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0502.022

Author byline as per print journal: Professor Paul J Declerck, PhD; Paul W Tebbey, PhD Abstract: The clinical performance of biological therapies is affected by their manufacturing processes. The advent of biosimilars increases the need to understand the clinical impact of potential differences versus originator products. This paper reviews important recently published technical data on…

Author(s): Paul W Tebbey, PhD, Professor Paul J Declerck, PhD

adalimumab, biosimilar pharmaceuticals, consistency, glycosylation, immunogenicity, manufacturing

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0502.018