Abstract: Cancer represents a significant, and growing, burden on healthcare systems. This is driven, at least in part, by escalating cancer drug budgets. Loss of patent protection on biopharmaceuticals enables the development and production of similar biological medicines, or biosimilars. Biosimilars are currently available for use in oncology in the supportive care setting; the focus…

Author(s): Matti Aapro, MD

biosimilars, cost burden, oncology

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2013.0202.023

Author byline as per print journal: Thijs J Giezen, PharmD, PhD; Sabine MJM Straus, MD, PhD Abstract:  Post-marketing surveillance is essential to detect, assess and prevent adverse reactions of chemically synthesized small molecule drugs as well as biologicals, as the full safety profile can only be known after they have been placed on the market. Biologicals have…

Author(s): Sabine MJM Straus, MD, PhD, Thijs J Giezen, PharmD, PhD, MSc

biologicals, biosimilars, immunogenicity, pharmacovigilance, traceability

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2012.0103-4.033

Author byline as per print journal: Pieter Dylst, PharmD; Professor Steven Simoens, MSc, PhD; Professor Arnold G Vulto, PharmD, PhD Introduction: A reference pricing system is a system that establishes a common reimbursement level or reference price for a group of interchangeable medicines, i.e. the reference group. This article provides an overview of the different characteristics of the different…

Author(s): Pieter Dylst, PharmD, Professor Arnold G Vulto, PharmD, PhD, FCP, Steven Simoens, MSc, PhD

Europe, generic drugs, reference pricing system, reimbursement, review

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2012.0103-4.028

Introduction: The use of biotechnological manufactured drugs, or biologicals, has increased massively over the past few years. Used especially in the treatment of cancer and other severe diseases, biologicals incur high annual therapy costs and represent an additional burden for healthcare systems. Expenditure can be decreased by using cheaper biosimilars, produced following the patent expiration of…

Author(s): Robert Haustein, Christoph de Millas, Ariane Höer, MD, Professor Bertram Häussler, MD

biologicals, biosimilars, cost savings, costs, epo, Europe, G-CSF, MAB

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2012.0103-4.036

Editor's Letter

Published on 29 June 2012

What to look forward to in GaBI Journal, 2012, issue 2

It is my pleasure to introduce the second edition of GaBI Journalwhich contains a number of interesting articles. Professors Benjamin and Kearns present a review of advances in paediatric drug development and labelling, see pages 54–55. This follows on my prior comments about how generics and biosimilars may fail to meet the needs of children [1].…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2012.0102.013

Author byline as per print journal: Timothy Ken Mackey1,2, MAS; Professor Bryan A Liang1,3,4, MD, JD, PhD Abstract:  Biologicals represent the future of pharmaceutical treatments and innovation. Yet, emerging and developing markets lack access to these often essential medicines. Biosimilar development represents a potential solution to this problem, by offering lower cost and improved access, but…

Author(s): Professor Bryan A Liang, MD, JD, PhD, Timothy Ken Mackey, MAS

biosimilars, emerging markets, follow-on biologics, global health, immunogenicity, patient safety, public−private partnerships

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2012.0102.018

Abstract: Nomenclature for biosimilars is a controversial issue. In this issue of GaBI Journal, a paper by Sarshad et al. considers the US FDA’s published system for this and concludes that it will be a positive solution to a global issue. But this may be a premature judgement. Submitted: 1 January 2019; Revised: 3 January…

Author(s): Robin Thorpe, PhD, FRCPath

biosimilars, INN, nomenclature, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0704.029

Abstract:  Four changes to the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act and the Pediatric Research Equity Act will markedly improve these programmes: expanded attention paid to neonatal studies, support for the off -patent programme, timing and submission of paediatric plans, and the per­manence of the legislation. Submitted: 30 November 2011; Revised manuscript received: 2 March 2012;…

Author(s): Professor Daniel Kelly Benjamin Jr, MD, MPH, PhD, Professor Gregory L Kearns, PharmD, PhD

Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, clinical studies, legislation, neonates, off-patent drugs

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2012.0102.014

Introduction: To describe pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement systems in 29 European countries with regard to medicines, particularly generics, and their possible impact on generics uptake. Method: Data collection on pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement policies with the staff of competent authorities. Results: In most European countries the prices of medicines are controlled at the stage of manufacture (ex-factory price)…

Author(s): Sabine Vogler, PhD

generics policies, generics substitution, INN prescribing, pricing, reference pricing system, reimbursement

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2012.0102.020

Author byline as per print journal: Professor Brian Godman1,2,3, BSc, PhD; Amanj Kurdi1,4, PhD; Holly McCabe5, MSc; Sean MacBride-Stewart6, MSc; Axel Leporowski5, MD; Simon Hurding7, MD; Professor Marion Bennie1, MSc; Professor Alec Morton5, PhD Introduction: There has been a considerable increase in the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in recent years due to their effectiveness…

Author(s): Amanj Kurdi, BSc, PhD, Axel Leporowski, MD, Brian Godman, BSc, PhD, Holly McCabe, MSc, Marion Bennie, MSc, Professor Alec Morton, PhD, Sean MacBride-Stewart, MSc, Simon Hurding, MD

drug utilization, expenditure, generics, PPIs, reforms, Scottish NHS

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2018.0704.030

Author byline as per print journal: Christoph Baumgärtel1, MD; Brian Godman2,3,4, BSc, PhD; Rickard E Malmstrom5, MD, PhD; Morten Andersen6, MD, PhD; Mohammed Abuelkhair7, PharmD; Shajahan Abdu7, MD; Marion Bennie8,9, MSc; Iain Bishop9, BSc; Thomas Burkhardt10, MSc; Sahar Fahmy7, PhD; Jurij Furst11; Kristina Garuoliene12, MD, PhD; Harald Herholz13, MPH; Marija Kalaba14, MD, MHM; Hanna Koskinen15, PhD;…

Author(s): Christoph Baumgärtel, MD, MSc, et al.

clopidogrel, demand measures, generics, pricing

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2012.0102.016

Abstract:  Marketed medicines that have passed bioequivalence testing should in general be substitutable. However, for a variety of reasons, caution may be warranted, particularly with regard to narrow therapeutic index drugs and the indiscriminate use of biosimilars. The Royal Dutch Pharmacists Association (KNMP) has published professional guidelines for community pharmacies concerning generic substitution. The guidelines…

Author(s): Leonora Grandia, PharmD, Professor Arnold G Vulto, PharmD, PhD, FCP

biologicals, biosimilars, Dutch guidelines, generics substitution, interchangeability, narrow therapeutic index drugs

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2012.0102.021