Author byline as per print journal: Adjunct Associate Professor Sia Chong Hock1, BSc (Pharm), MSc; Adelia Pheh1, BSc (Pharm) (Hon); Vimal Sachdeva2, MSc; Associate Professor Chan Lai Wah1, BSc (Pharm) (Hon), PhD Abstract: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant surge in interest of COVID-19 vaccines in particular, and other…

challenges, COVID-19 vaccines, harmonization, manufacturing, regulation, traditional vaccines

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2022.1101.004

Author byline as per print journal: Mihaela Buda, PhD; Olga Kolaj-Robin, PhD; Emmanuelle Charton, PhD Abstract: The approach to the elaboration of European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) monographs in the field of biotherapeutics has significantly evolved in recent years. In particular, monographs on complex biotherapeutics call for greater flexibility as a means of better addressing the structural…

biosimilars, biotherapeutics, monographs, pharmacopoeia, public standards

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2022.1101.003

Abstract: Systematic clinical switch studies to demonstrate interchangeability of biosimilars are required in some jurisdictions while theoretical considerations and current clinical data question the feasibility and relevance of such studies. Submitted: 27 November 2021; Revised: 15 December 2021; Accepted: 15 December 2021; Published online first: 28 December 2021 Biosimilars have been used for 15 years…

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

biosimilars, immunogenicity, interchangeability, switch studies

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2022.1101.002

Editor's Letter

Published on 26 April 2022

First 2022 GaBI Journal issue highlights

The first GaBI Journal issue of 2022 comes at a time of both hope and despair. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant global morbidity and mortality; especially in resource-poor countries, both the pace and direction of changes are beginning to produce some encouraging signs. Positive trends are in part the result of the…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2022.1101.001

Author byline as per print journal: Esteban Ortiz-Prado1, MD, MSc, MPH, PhD(c); Enrique Teran2, MD, PhD; Raul Patricio Fernandez Naranjo1, MSc; Doménica Cevallos-Robalino1, MD; Eduardo Vasconez1, MD; Alex Lister3, MPH At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ecuador was unprepared for the overwhelming number of COVID-19 cases. As the general population started to see the effects…

biosimilars, black market, COVID-19 pandemic, interleukins, tocilizumab

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2021.1004.023

Author byline as per print journal: Josette Sciberras, MBA, MA Bioethics, BPharm (Hons); Raymond Zammit, SThD; Patricia Vella Bonanno, PhD Introduction: The Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe (2020) proposes actions related to intellectual property (IP) rights as a means of ensuring patients’ access to medicines. This review aims to describe and discuss the European IP framework and…

biological medicines, European intellectual property rights, market access, pricing, R & D

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2021.1004.022

Author byline as per print journal: Lyndsay Davies1, PhD; Katie Milligan1, BSc; Mark Corris1, BSc; Ian Clarke1; Paul Dwyer1, MSc; Sarah Elizabeth Lee2, PhD; Jolene Teraoka3, BSc; Jill Crouse-Zeineddini3, PhD; Jane Hippenmeyer4, PharmD Study Objectives: To investigate the quality and in-use stability of the trastuzumab biosimilar ABP 980 (KANJINTI™) in both concentrated multi-dose bags and following…

biosimilar, elastomeric device, KANJINTI® ABP 980, stability, trastuzumab

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2021.1004.021

Editor's Letter

Published on 16 December 2021

Fourth and final issue of GaBI Journal’s 10th volume

This issue of the GaBI Journal contains only a limited number of articles, but these include two scientific very data-rich articles and an interesting and important expose on the use and misuse of products to treat COVID-19 patients. All three articles have potentially major implications for the global struggle to deal with the current COVID-19…

Author(s): Professor Philip D Walson, MD

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2021.1004.020

Submitted: 14 May 2021; Revised: 14 May 2021; Accepted: 3 June 2021; Published online first: 10 June 2021 Medicines regulatory authorities aim to address rising healthcare costs and promote access to medicines worldwide through review and approval of quality generic drug products that are interchangeable with the corresponding reference medicinal product. The Bioequivalence Working Group…

Author(s): Alfredo García Arieta, PhD, Clare Rodrigues

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2021.1003.019

Author byline as per print journal: Michael Wilcock, MPhil; Andrew Pothecary, MSc Introduction: Biological medicines are used to treat a range of conditions according to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisals. The annual drug treatment cost per patient per year varies depending on various factors, including newer or older biological, and…

biologicals, biosimilars, dermatology, psoriasis

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2021.1003.018

Author byline as per print journal: Adjunct Associate Professor Sia Chong Hock, BSc (Pharm), MSc; Tan Ying Ting, BSc Pharm (Hons); Associate Professor Chan Lai Wah, BSc Pharm (Hons), PhD Hand sanitizers are rub-on formulations for the purpose of inactivating microorganisms on the hands. With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, a surge in the manufacturing, sale…

effectiveness, hand sanitizers, myths, regulatory framework, safety, standards

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2021.1003.017

Author byline as per print journal: Professor Philip J Schneider1, MS, FASHP, FASPEN, FFIP; Michael S Reilly2, Esq Canada has approved a total of 36 biosimilars. While the approval of biosimilars is regulated at the national level, decisions about biosimilar substitution are made at the provincial level. Four Canadian provinces, representing around 50% of the…

Author(s): Michael S Reilly, Esq, Professor Philip J Schneider, MS, FASHP, FASPEN, FFIP

biosimilars, Canada, policy, substitution, switching

DOI: 10.5639/gabij.2021.1003.016