Abstract: The arrival of biosimilars has led to considerable debate on how they can be used in clinical practice. A particular concern is related to the question of whether a biosimilar can be safely interchanged with the originator product or other biosimilars. Here we will discuss challenges to the regulatory approach for establishing interchangeability, in…

Author(s): Hans C Ebbers, PhD, Paul Chamberlain, BSc

biosimilars, immunogenicity, interchangeability, monoclonal antibodies, substitution, switching

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2014.0302.022

Submitted: 2 March 2014; Revised: 7 March 2014; Accepted: 8 March 2014; Published online first: 21 March 2014 The guideline ‘Note for guidance on modified release oral and transdermal dosage forms: Section II (Pharmacokinetic and clinical evaluation)’ [1] was issued over 10 years ago, and the need for revision was recognized in 2010. An international…

Author(s): Christoph Baumgärtel, MD, MSc, Jan Neuhauser, MD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2014.0302.024

Introduction: A survey of the views of European physicians on familiarity of biosimilar medicines has demonstrated the need for distinguishable non-proprietary names to be given to all biologicals. Methods: The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines recruited 470 prescribers with clinical experience of biologicals in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK to answer questions relating…

Author(s): Michael S Reilly, Esq, Richard O Dolinar, MD

biological, biosimilar, Europe, INN, pharmacy substitution, prescribers

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2014.0302.018

Introduction: The healthcare sector is one of the most rapidly expanding and dynamic industries in the world. Pharmaceutical expenditure is now growing faster than other components of healthcare overheads. Globally, pressures to manage pharmaceutical spending have led to increased prescribing of generic drugs. Use of generic drugs in private medical centres in Malaysia, however, remains…

Author(s): Muhamad Ali SK Abdul Kader, MD, Rohit Kumar, MPharm, Mohamed Azmi Ahmad Hassali, PhD, Navneet Kaur, PhD

generics, Malaysia, perceptions, pharmaceuticals, private hospitals

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2014.0302.019

It is far from clear whether off-patent biological medicines can offer the same cost savings as those offered by off-patent non-biological (chemically derived) medicines, write a group of Brussels-based health economists in the European Journal of Health Economics. Several key factors will play a role in realizing the potential of these effective low-cost agents, including…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2014.0302.025

Author byline as per print journal: Niels Eckstein, PhD; Lea Röper, BSc; Bodo Haas, PhD; Henrike Potthast, PhD; Ulrike Hermes, PhD; Christoph Unkrig, MD; Frauke Naumann-Winter, PhD; Harald Enzmann, MD Aim: To provide a systematic overview on: i) safety profiles; ii) pharmacokinetic parameters; and iii) regulatory framework of anti-cancer tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Methodology: Recherché of pharmakokinetic (PK)-parameter: i) Germany’s federal drug database…

Author(s): Bodo Haas, PhD, Christoph Unkrig, MD, Frauke Naumann-Winter, PhD, Harald Enzmann, MD, Henrike Potthast, PhD, Lea Röper, BSc, Niels Eckstein, PhD, Ulrike Hermes, PhD

generics, narrow therapeutic index drugs, orphan drugs, product-specific bioequivalence guidance, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI)

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2014.0302.021

The International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO) is an alliance of over 200 patient groups that represents the interests of patients worldwide. In November 2013, IAPO published its Information and Advocacy Toolkit on Biological and Biosimilar Medicines for Patients’ Organizations [1]. The Toolkit was developed to provide up-to-date, evidence-based information on the science, technology, and…

Author(s): GaBI Journal Editor

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2014.0304.045

Abstract: The principles Health Canada use when extrapolating the indications and uses of a biosimilar product subsequent to a single clinical trial or limited number and scope of clinical trials during product development are discussed. The principles underlying the regulatory framework for subsequent entry biologics (SEBs or biosimilars) in Canada explain the position taken by…

Author(s): Agnes V Klein, MD, DPH, Jian Wang, MD, PhD, Patrick Bedford, BSc, MA

biosimilar, Canada, reference biological product, subsequent entry biologics (SEBs)

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2014.0303.033

Author byline as per print journal: Shon Crampton1, BA; Alla Polozova1, PhD; Darin Asbury2, BS; Alexis Lueras2, BS; Paul Breslin1, BS; Jane Hippenmeyer3, PharmD; Jennifer Litowski1, PhD; Monica Goss2, PhD Study objectives: To investigate the quality and in-use stability of diluted ABP 980 (a trastuzumab biosimilar) versus reference trastuzumab to mimic dosing in intravenous (IV)…

ABP 980, biosimilar, stability, trastuzumab

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2020.0901.002

Introduction: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Overview Workshop on GMP for Biologicals and Biosimilars was co-organized with the Generics and Biosimilars Initiative (GaBI). This meeting was intended to improve the understanding of the good manufacture practice (GMP) inspection framework for biological (and biosimilar) drugs among ASEAN countries. Methods: The workshop was held on…

Author(s): Adjunct Associate Professor Sia Chong Hock, BSc (Pharm), MSc, Elwyn Griffiths, DSc, PhD

ASEAN, biologicals, biosimilars, GMP

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2019.0803.015

Submitted: 24 January 2014; Revised: 29 January 2014; Accepted: 30 January 2014; Published online first: 12 February 2014 To the Editor: I read with interest the letter of Dr Edward T Maggio which was published in Volume 2/Year 2013/Issue 4 of the Generics and Biosimilars Initiative Journal [1] on the naming issue for biosimilars and…

Author(s): Professor Paul J Declerck, PhD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2014.0301.003

Editor's Letter

Published on 18 March 2014

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

This issue of the GaBI Journal begins with editorial comments from our Deputy Editor-in-Chief Dr Robin Thorpe concerning the Review Article by Azevedo et al. covering biosimilar regulations and their implementation in some Latin American countries. Three Original Research papers describe real life clinical examples relating to the use and evaluation of follow-on products respectively;…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2014.0301.001