Abstract: Biosimilar monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are making their way onto the drug market. Because these are complex molecules in terms of structure and function, assessing similarity between originator and biosimilar mAb is challenging. This review discusses the hallmarks of similarity testing between originator products and mAb biosimilars in terms of product quality attributes, non-clinical and…

Author(s): Vera Brinks, MSc, PhD

biosimilar monoclonal antibodies, immunogenicity, similarity assessment

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0204.052

Aim: To explain the components of pharmaceutical expenditure and illustrate the strengths and limitations of this indicator. In particular, we explore policies applied in European countries that affect the price and volume of medicines. Methodology: This paper is based on a presentation held at the European Drug Utilization Research Group (EuroDURG)/International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE)…

Author(s): Claudia Habl, Sabine Vogler, PhD, Nina Zimmermann, MA

health expenditures, hospital sector, medicine prices, pharmaceutical expenditure, policy, volume

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0204.051

Author byline as per print journal: Aijing Zhang, PhD, Associate Professor Jung-Ying Tzeng, Professor Shein-Chung Chow, PhD Abstract: When an innovative biological product goes off-patent, biopharmaceutical or biotechnological companies may file an application for regulatory approval of biosimilar products. In practice, however, important information on the innovative (reference) product may not be available for assessment. Thus,…

biosimilarity, biosimilarity index, highly similar, reference standards, replicate reference study

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0204.050

Abstract: Biological product quality is susceptible to unexpected manufacturing issues, and the resulting variation may impact the safety or efficacy of these medicines and increase risks to patients. These risks can be managed more effectively by manufacturers’ adoption of the culture and practices of high reliability organizations and by their sharing of quality risk management…

Author(s): Gustavo Grampp, PhD, Sundar Ramanan, PhD

biologicals, manufacturing, quality, safety

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0204.049

Submitted: 31 October 2013; Revised: 6 November 2013; Accepted: 11 November 2013; Published online first: 25 November 2013 To the Editor: I wanted to bring to your attention the following paper which was published in Volume 2/Year 2013/Issue 3 of the Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal. The Perspective paper titled Licensing and prescribing biosimilars in…

Author(s): Brendan Shaw, PhD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0204.048

Abstract: As a practicing endocrinologist and Chairman of the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines, I am writing to commend the World Health Organization for its attention to and upcoming action on the important issue of non-proprietary names for biotech medicines. Submitted: 20 September 2013; Revised: 21 September 2013; Accepted: 21 September 2013; Published online first:…

Author(s): Richard O Dolinar, MD

biological identification, INN, public safety, World Health Organization (WHO)

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0204.047

Abstract: Information about variable immunogenicity arising from formulation differences between competing biosimilars is critical for informed judgments by prescribing physicians. Use of a common INN for biosimilars will obfuscate such differences to the detriment of patients. Submitted: 31 October 2013; Revised: 12 November 2013; Accepted: 13 November 2013; Published online first: 26 November 2013 Immunogenicity…

Author(s): Edward T Maggio, PhD

immunogenicity, INN, neoantigen, neutralizing antibodies, oxidative damage, polysorbate, protein aggregation

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0204.046

Abstract: Legislation in support of pharmacist notification to patients and providers of substitution of an interchangeable biologic for the originator biologic was recently vetoed in California. Automatic substitution of approved biosimilars without notifying the patient and physician/healthcare provider circumvents important pharmacovigilance. Submitted: 21 October 2013; Revised: 22 October 2013; Accepted: 25 October 2013; Published online…

Author(s): Janet S Wyatt, RN, PhD, FAANP

biologicals, patients, REMS

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0204.045

Abstract: Despite the fact that hepatitis C is a disease of global importance, many countries cannot afford the costly but effective combination treatment of peg-interferon and ribavirin, which was recently included in the World Health Organization Essential Medicines List. Given that peg-interferon is a biotechnological product, should low- to middle-income countries adopt the burdensome biosimilar…

Author(s): Armando A Genazzani, DPhil, MD, Nicola Magrini, MD

alternative therapeutic products, biosimilar, essential medicines, peginterferon, regulatory approval pathways, World Health Organization (WHO)

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0204.044

Abstract: The Editor-in-Chief expresses his concerns about the proposal of a WHO run system to approve copy biologicals in the Milani and Gaspani paper [1]. The paper by Milani and Gaspani [1] suggests that the World Health Organization (WHO) sets up a programme to approve follow-on pegylated interferons and similar biological medications, that is biological…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD

biological products, pegylated interferons, World Health Organization (WHO)

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0204.043

Editor's Letter

Published on 05 December 2013

GaBI Journal publishes four issues in 2013

This issue marks the forth and final issue of the second year’s edition of the GaBI Journal. The journal has grown rapidly through the combined efforts of the publisher and her staff, all of the members of the executive editorial board and the international editorial advisory board, our contributors, advertisers and readers for which I…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0204.042

The approval of biosimilars in the European Union (EU) is governed by the EU biosimilar framework released in 2004. But new arrivals on the biosimilar stage – monoclonal antibodies – are forcing regulatory authorities to reconsider what constitutes a biosimilar, writes Dr Ebbers and co-authors [1]. Many monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) will lose patent protection in…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0203.041