Abstract: Since the biosimilars pathway was introduced, many US states have been considering, or have introduced, legislation to allow for substitution of biosimilars deemed interchangeable. This paper gives an update of the current situation. Submitted: 21 April 2015; Revised: 8 May 2015; Accepted: 11 May 2015; Published online first: 25 May 2015 The Biologics Price…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

biologicals, biosimilars, legislation, notification, substitution

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0402.020

Abstract: Biosimilars can substitute treatment with expensive biological drugs and release money to treat more patients. Experience from Norway shows how this can be done with and without success. Submitted: 18 May 2015; Revised: 22 May 2015; Accepted: 26 May 2015; Published online first: 8 June 2015 Introduction Drug budgets and total healthcare expenditure can…

Author(s): Asbjørn Mack, MD

biosimilars, discounts, market penetration, tender

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0402.018

Abstract: With a number of patents on biological medicines soon to expire in the US, multiple stakeholders – from policymakers to manufacturers to payers – have been debating the structure of regulatory frameworks and in particular, naming conventions for biosimilars. A key area of concern has been the potential impact of naming, and specifically, whether…

Author(s): Jacqueline Vanderpuye-Orgle, MSc, PhD, Joseph P Fuhr, PhD, Amitabh Chandra, PhD, John Romley, PhD, Tiffany Shih, PhD, Suepattra G May, MPH, PhD

biosimilar, market uptake, nomenclature, regulatory, specialty pharmaceuticals

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0402.015

Author byline as per print journal: Ljiljana Sović Brkičić, MPharm; Brian Godman, BSc, PhD; Martina Bogut, BSc; Miron Sršen, MD; Hye-Young Kwon, BPharm, MPH, PhD; Winnie de Bruyn, BSc; Tonko Tabain, MD Introduction: Croatia has introduced a number of reforms to contain pharmaceutical expenditure whilst increasing access to new medicines. These include new regulations and new…

Author(s): Brian Godman, BSc, PhD, Hye-Young Kwon, BPharm, MPH, PhD, Ljiljana Sović Brkičić, MPharm, Martina Bogut, BSc, Miron Sršen, MD, Tonko Tabain, MD, Winnie de Bruyn, BSc

biosimilars, Croatia, generics, pharmaceuticals, reference pricing system, reforms

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0402.017

Author byline as per print journal: Professor Walter P Jeske, PhD; Jeanine M Walenga, PhD; Nicolas Simon, MD, PhD; Debra Hoppensteadt, PhD; Josephine Cunanan, MD; Vicki Escalante, BS; Jawed Fareed, PhD; Mamdouh Bakhos, MD Introduction: Low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are composed of a heterogeneous mixture of oligosaccharides that express a spectrum of biological activities. Studies…

Author(s): Debra Hoppensteadt, PhD, Jawed Fareed, PhD, Jeanine M Walenga, PhD, Josephine Cunanan, MD, Mamdouh Bakhos, MD, Nicolas Simon, MD, PhD, Vicki Escalante, BS, Professor Walter P Jeske, PhD

anticoagulation, generics, heparins, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, population

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0402.016

Submitted: 6 March 2015; Revised: 9 March 2015; Accepted: 10 March 2015; Published online first: 23 March 2015 A new online resource on biological and biosimilar medicines in Latin America – created for patients, the organizations who represent them and those who want to understand more about how these issues affect patients in the region…

Author(s): Ian Ford

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0402.021

Abstract: The backlog in medicines registration in South Africa is a result of the implementation of pro-generics policies without strengthening the regulator to handle the substantial increase in registration applications that followed. Despite the backlog, more than enough generics are registered to promote price competition and ensure access to affordable medicines. Submitted: 25 February 2015;…

Author(s): Allyson M Pollock, MBChB, FFPH, MRCP (Ed), MRCGP, Henry MJ Leng, PhD, David Sanders, MRCP

access to medicines, generic medicines registration, registration backlog, South Africa

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0402.014

Editor's Letter

Published on 15 June 2015

What to look forward to in GaBI Journal, 2015, Issue 2

This entire issue of the GaBI Journal could be titled ‘World News’ since it contains manuscripts describing global generics and biosimilar activities. The Commentary by Leng et al. describes regulatory events in South Africa that led to claims of delay in marketing approval of generic drug products. The authors discuss the relationship between regulatory policies…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0402.013

Submitted: 11 February 2015; Revised: 14 February 2015; Accepted: 15 February 2015; Published online first: 20 February 2015 Cancer represents a significant, and growing, burden on healthcare systems around the world. Population growth and ageing will increase the number of new cancer cases in the coming years [1]. Furthermore, cancer is becoming a more widely…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0401.012

Abstract: Biologicals have offered a new avenue for targeting therapy to treat life-threatening and chronic diseases. The recent or pending patent expirations of many successful biologicals have permitted the marketing of ‘copy’ versions of the off-patent biologicals, generally known as biosimilars (subsequent entry biologics in Canada). The reduced clinical package and the potential for extrapolation…

Author(s): Agnes V Klein, MD, DPH, Jian Wang, MD, PhD, Ally Pen, PhD

biologicals, biosimilars, clinical trials, extrapolation, immunogenicity, regulatory

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0401.009

Abstract: Biosimilars are copies of original biological medicines. Biosimilarity is a new concept in drug development. Physicians prescribing biologicals need more neutral information on the quality, safety and efficacy of biosimilars. Submitted: 27 November 2014; Revised: 15 December 2014; Accepted: 18 December 2014; Published online first: 19 December 2014 Introduction The European Union (EU) was…

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

biosimilars, comparability, interchangeability, prescribers, regulators

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0401.008

Background: Uptake of super generic or hybrid pharmaceuticals has decelerated despite their important economic potential for the generic pharmaceutical industry. The aim of switching to these product portfolios was to enable product differentiation; however, these strategies are influenced by new semantic challenges, which have hampered the promotion of value-added pharmaceuticals or super generics in recent…

Author(s): Fereshteh Barei, PhD, Malcolm Ross

505(b)(2) approvals, generics, improved therapeutics, innovation, new therapeutics entities, super generics

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2015.0401.007