Statistical considerations for the development of biosimilar products

Abstract: As the patents of a growing number of biological medicines have already expired or are due to expire, it has led to an increased interest from both the biopharmaceutical industry and the regulatory agencies in the development and approval of biosimilars. With the high urgency, European Medicines Agency released the first general guideline on […]


Biosimilar development and regulation in Japan

Abstract: In Japan, biosimilars guidelines following the principles of the EU framework were established by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in March 2009. The guidelines cover the manufacturing process, characterization of quality attributes, and clinical and non-clinical studies for biosimilars. In this paper, the requirements for regulatory approval of biosimilars in Japan are […]


New CHMP guideline on immunogenicity of monoclonal antibodies

Author byline as per print journal: Robin Thorpe, PhD, FRCPath; Meenu Wadhwa, PhD Abstract: The importance of monoclonal antibodies as a product class and the challenge of assessing unwanted immunogenicity for these products have prompted the drafting of a new CHMP (Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use) guideline. The ‘Guideline on immunogenicity assessment of […]


Biologicals and biosimilars: a review of the science and its implications

Abstract: Biopharmaceuticals are medicines whose active drug substance is made by living cells. Copies of these drugs, called biosimilars, are not identical to their reference drug and therefore specific regulatory requirements for registration apply. Whereas pharmaceutical quality evaluation requires a full dossier and a detailed comparative analysis to the reference drug, non-clinical and clinical requirements […]