Abstract: Hybridomas were developed in 1975 as a stable platform for creating monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Over the past 40 years, hybridomas have been a leading platform for creating mAbs, yet of the 50 commercial mAbs approved for sale by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), only 18 are produced using hybridomas. Of the remainder,…

Author(s): Tim Steele, BS

hybridomas, microfluidics, monoclonal antibodies

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0501.006

Author byline as per print journal: Eleftheria Karampli, MSc; Estathia Triga, MSc; Vasiliki Tsiantou, MSc; Kostas Athanasakis, PhD; John Kyriopoulos, PhD Introduction/Study objectives: Generic medicines uptake is widely acknowledged as a key pharmaceutical policy measure towards cost containment and rational resource allocation. In Greece, due to the persistently low penetration of generics in the pharmaceutical…

Author(s): Eleftheria Karampli, MSc, Estathia Triga, MSc, John Kyriopoulos, PhD, Kostas Athanasakis, PhD, Vasiliki Tsiantou, MSc

generics, medicines consumption, patients, pharmaceutical policy, physicians, prescribing

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0501.005

Submitted: 14 January 2016; Revised: 26 January 2016; Accepted: 27 January 2016; Published online first: 9 February 2016 Once again the biosimilars industry has had a busy year [1]. Perhaps the most important milestone achieved during 2015 was the landmark decision made by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 6 March 2015 to…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0501.010

Abstract: CT-P13 was the first infliximab biosimilar approved in Brazil. Approval was granted for all indications of the innovator. Despite similar efficacy and safety, vigilance remains essential. Submitted: 4 January 2016; Revised: 27 January 2016; Accepted: 1 February 2016; Published online first: 12 February 2016 On 27 April 2015, the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Agência…

Author(s): Professor Fabio V Teixeira, MSc, MD, PhD

biosimilar, CT-P13, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), infliximab

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0501.002

Abstract: Low-cost generic drug programs (LCGPs) provide affordable generics in the US. However, LCGPs have implications for managed care organizations and researchers relying on claims data. Submitted: 7 March 2016; Revised: 5 April 2016; Accepted: 5 April 2016; Published online first: 18 April 2016 Low-cost generic drug programs (LCGPs) in the US increase the affordability…

Author(s): Joshua D Brown, PharmD, MS

generic medicines, low-cost generic drug programs, quality assessment, United States healthcare system

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0501.003

Abstract: The importance of obtaining IRB/EC consent for waiver of consent before embarking on retrospective chart review studies was highlighted using the recent case of a manuscript submitted to GaBI Journal. Submitted: 12 March 2016; Revised: 14 March 2016; Accepted: 14 March 2016; Published online first: 28 March 2016 This commentary was prompted by a…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD

chart review, consent, retrospective, waiver

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0501.004

Editor's Letter

Published on 04 May 2016

Editor’s introduction to the initial issue of the fifth volume of GaBI Journal

This issue begins with a Letter to the Editor by Professor Fabio V Teixeira from the Brazilian Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Society that deals basically with the issue of extrapolation of indications. The letter states that ‘vigilance remains essential’ for the use of this agent in IBD patients. Professor Teixeira’s letter is in response to…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2016.0501.001

Pro-generics policies and the backlog in medicines registration in South Africa: implications for access to essential and affordable medicines Comment by Ernest Schay, Bayer Thank you for this very interesting article. From a veterinary medicine perspective, it would certainly explain why such medicines are also experiencing a delay, as veterinary medicines use the same P & A (Pharmaceutical…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0404.044

Introduction: Similar biotherapeutic products (SBPs or biosimilars) include a rapidly expanding number of therapeutic products worldwide. However, agreement about the best practices for their regulation are lacking in many countries including in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Methods: The first MENA educational workshop on SBPs was held in Dubai, UAE on 1 September…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD, Robin Thorpe, PhD, FRCPath

biologicals, biosimilars, follow-on drugs, MENA (Middle East and North Africa), regulatory practice

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0404.039

Abstract: Biosimilars have been approved in Europe since 2006. With patents on originator biologicals expiring and ever-tightening healthcare budgets biosimilars are likely to take an increasing share of the biologicals market. In light of these facts, this article gives estimated patent expiry dates for just some of the best-selling biologicals. Submitted: 19 November 2015; Revised:…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

biological, biosimilar, patent

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0404.040

Abstract: With many biosimilars being approved around the world, there is an urgent need for clear guidelines on establishing biosimilarity and on approving subsequent extrapolation. The balance between clinical studies and analytics in establishing and confirming biosimilarity are discussed in this paper. Submitted: 28 July 2015; Revised: 15 August 2015; Accepted: 16 August 2015; Published…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

analytics, biosimilarity, clinical studies, extrapolation

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0404.041

Submitted: 6 October 2015; Revised: 10 October 2015; Accepted: 12 October 2015; Published online first: 26 October 2015 The most critical safety concern relating to biologicals (including biosimilars) is immunogenicity. This is especially important for monoclonal antibody (mAb) biologicals, which are large molecules with complex structures and functions and which represent the largest class of…

Author(s): GaBI Online Editor

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0404.043