News


J&J adds its opinion to biosimilars naming debate

Published on 2014/05/15

In the ongoing saga over how to name biosimilars healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has added its opinion to the melting pot; petitioning the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to...

Germany wants to increase biosimilars penetration

Published on 2014/05/13

Germany may introduce regulations to increase the uptake of biosimilars in the country, according to Mr Mathias Heck, who serves as the European Union Legal and Policy Counsel with the European Offi...

Shortage of HIV/AIDS drugs in South Africa

Published on 2014/05/08

According to a survey of South African clinics, one in five of them are running short of life-saving HIV/AIDS drugs, affecting nearly half a million people and undermining the success of the worldâ€...

OECD report finds reduction in spending on health

Published on 2014/05/01

Spending on health fell in one of three countries covered by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) between 2009 and 2011, with the countries hit hardest by the financia...

Pennsylvania moves closer to adopting biosimilars legislation

Published on 2014/04/29

Pennsylvania has taken a step closer to adopting legislation which would authorize pharmacists to be able to substitute FDA-approved biosimilars for their reference biologicals, but with certain r...

Survey highlights the importance of unique names for biosimilars

Published on 2014/04/24

A report released by the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines (ASBM) on 22 November 2013 highlights the importance of using unique names for identifying biosimilars. US-based ASBM surveye...

FDA awards grant to study generic transplant drug tacrolimus

Published on 2014/04/22

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded a federal grant worth US$2.3 million to researchers at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, in order to continue studies into tacrolimus, a ...

Biosimilars naming debate intensifies

Published on 2014/04/17

In October 2013, a letter was sent to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by a bipartisan group of US senators calling for biosimilars to have the same active ingredient name as the brand-name...

Etanercept biosimilar has comparable pharmacokinetics to Enbrel

Published on 2014/04/15

An etanercept biosimilar (CHS-0214) from fledgling biotech company Coherus Biosciences (Coherus) has shown comparable pharmacokinetics in a pivotal clinical study. Coherus announced on 28 Octob...

American-made prescription drugs 76% cheaper when purchased abroad

Published on 2014/04/10

American patients can make significant savings by buying drugs abroad, according to an analysis carried out by online pharmacy information specialist PharmacyChecker.com. Americans can fi...

EMA launches public catalogue of drug shortages

Published on 2014/04/08

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on 4 November 2013 the launch of its public catalogue on supply shortages of drugs. In the European Union, most drug shortages are dealt with at na...

EGA commends EMA workshop on biosimilars guidelines

Published on 2014/04/03

The European Generic medicines Association (EGA) has congratulated the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on its organization of the EMA workshop on biosimilars and urges rapid adoption of its revision...