Medizone Home
×

Cinfa Biotech announces positive top-line data from second clinical study with pegfilgrastim biosimilar candidat

Cinfa Biotech S.L., the biosimilars company of Cinfa Group, today announced positive top-line data from the second clinical trial with its lead development candidate B12019, a biosimilar version of Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) to treat chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

The trial demonstrated comparability of B12019 and its reference product Neulasta with regards to pharmacodynamics (PD) and immunogenicity. All primary and secondary study endpoints were met.

The multiple-dose, randomised, double-blind, three-period cross-over study enrolled 96 healthy volunteers in Germany. The study design was based on scientific advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and was tailored to the specific properties of pegfilgrastim. The study met its primary endpoints: area under the effect curve (AUEC0-last) for PD and anti-drug antibody rate (ADA) for immunogenicity, confirming comparability to Neulasta. Likewise, all secondary endpoints were achieved. The safety of B12019 was also comparable to Neulasta. Further data from the trial will be presented at upcoming scientific conferences.

Pegfilgrastim is indicated for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. The pegylated granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor agonist is used to stimulate bone marrow to produce more neutrophils to decrease the incidence of infection in patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Source: Cinfa Biotech press release

Sandoz proposed biosimilars rituximab and etanercept recommended for approval in Europe

Sandoz, announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted positive opinions, separately recommending the approval of both Sandoz’ biosimilar rituximab and biosimilar etanercept in Europe.

The products are recommended to treat the same indications as their respective reference medicines.

“We are proud to help patients in Europe with blood cancers and immunological diseases by improving their access to effective treatments through the potential approval of not just one, but two new Sandoz biosimilar medicines,” said Mark Levick, MD PhD, Global Head of Development, Biopharmaceuticals, Sandoz. “Today’s recommendations from the CHMP will not only benefit patients, but they demonstrate our leadership in biosimilars and the strength of the Sandoz and Novartis immunology and oncology portfolios”.

The CHMP recommendations were based on two comprehensive development programs in which analytical, preclinical and clinical – including pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic – data were generated. The programs demonstrated biosimilarity of biosimilar rituximab and etanercept to their respective reference medicines.

Sandoz has a leading biosimilar pipeline and, in addition to biosimilar rituximab and etanercept (Erelzi approved in 2016 by the FDA), plans to launch three more biosimilars of major oncology and immunology biologics across key geographies by 2020.
Source: Sandoz press release

Meet us at our booth at ARAB HEALTH 2017 – 30th Jan to 2nd Feb

We are looking forward to welcoming you at our booth at ARAB HEALTH – Stand No. Z3.E39 in the „German Hall“.

30th January to 2nd February 2017.

For more information visit ARAB HEALTH exhibitor directory.

meizone_arabhealth

Mylan and Biocon filed the biosimilar Herceptin application to FDA

Mylan N.V. and Biocon Ltd. last week announced submission of Mylan’s biologics license application (BLA) for MYL-1401O, a proposed biosimilar trastuzumab, to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the 351(K) pathway.

This product is a proposed biosimilar to branded trastuzumab, which is indicated to treat certain HER2-positive breast and gastric cancers. Mylan and Biocon believe that this has the potential to be the first submission of a proposed biosimilar trastuzumab in the U.S.

The submitted BLA includes a comprehensive package of analytical similarity, nonclinical and clinical data. The clinical data consists of two pharmacokinetic studies and the HERITAGE confirmatory efficacy and safety trial. The results of the HERITAGE trial were presented at this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress.

Mylan President Rajiv Malik commented: The FDA submission for biosimilar trastuzumab marks Mylan’s first FDA biosimilar submission from our broad portfolio of biosimilar products in development and our product has the opportunity to be the first biosimilar trastuzumab approved in the U.S.

Dr Arun Chandavarkar, CEO & Joint MD, Biocon, commented: FDA is an important milestone of Biocon and Mylan’s joint global biosimilars program and demonstrates our commitment to provide access to high-quality and affordable biologics to patients across the globe.

Source: Biosimilar News

FDA approves Sandoz’ Enbrel Biosimilar

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Erelzi, (etanercept-szzs) for multiple inflammatory diseases. Erelzi is a biosimilar to Enbrel (etanercept), which was originally licensed in 1998. The newly approved drug was developed by Novartis’ Sandoz Division.

Erelzi is administered by injection for the treatment of:

  • moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, either as a standalone therapy or in combination with methotrexate (MTX);
  • moderate to severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients ages two and older;
  • active psoriatic arthritis, including use in combination with MTX in psoriatic arthritis patients who do not respond adequately to MTX alone;
  • active ankylosing spondylitis (an arthritis that affects the spine); and
  • chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients (18 years or older) who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

“The biosimilar pathway is an important mechanism to improve access to treatment for patients with rheumatic and autoimmune diseases,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “We carefully evaluate the structural and functional characteristics of these complex molecules. Patients and providers can have confidence that there are no clinically meaningful differences in safety and efficacy from the reference product.”

The FDA’s approval of Erelzi is based on review of evidence that included structural and functional characterization, animal study data, human pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics data, clinical immunogenicity data and other clinical safety and effectiveness data that demonstrates Erelzi is biosimilar to Enbrel. Erelzi has been approved as a biosimilar, not as an interchangeable product.

Coherus BioSciences announces positive Phase III results for CHS-1420 (Humira biosimilar candidate) in psoriasis patients

Coherus BioSciences, Inc., reported topline results from an ongoing Phase 3 clinical study of CHS-1420, an adalimumab (Humira) biosimilar candidate.

The study met its primary endpoint demonstrating similarity between CHS-1420 and Humira with respect to percentage of subjects achieving 75% improvement in psoriasis area and severity index (PASI-75) at Week 12. The 95% confidence intervals for the difference between treatment groups fell well within the prespecified margin. Both CHS-1420 and Humira were similarly well tolerated with similar safety profiles in this study.

This was a confirmatory, randomized, double-blind, active-control, parallel-group, 3-part study in patients with active, moderate to severe, chronic plaque psoriasis. In treatment period 2, half the subjects randomized to Humira will cross-over to CHS-1420, modeling a chronic patient’s transition to a biosimilar. Comparative safety, including immunogenicity, and durability of response to CHS-1420 and Humira at week 16 and 24 are key secondary endpoints. These data will be presented at an upcoming scientific conference. The full dataset through treatment period 2 will be available in Q4 2016 and included in the BLA submission to follow.

Source: Biosimilar News

Epirus to sell CHO platform and biosimilar IP to Polpharma

As part of a cost-savings restructure, Epirus is selling the assets from its $14m acquisition of Bioceros last September to its biosimilars partner Polpharma.

Last year , Epirus Biopharmaceuticals paid $14m (€12.5m) for Netherlands-based Bioceros Holding BV, adding three biosimilar candidates and a proprietary Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) platform (CHO) for the manufacture of monoclonal antibodies.

But nine months later, the firm has announced in an SEC filing it is selling the Dutch subsidiary, including the “CHOBC cell line platform, all related intellectual property rights, a fully equipped laboratory and bioreactor capabilities” to its biosimilar development partner Polpharma for $3.5m.

The firm will retain exclusive rights to develop BOW080 and BOW070 – intended copycat versions of Alexion’s Soliris (eculizumab) and Chugai/Roche’s Actemra (tocilizumab), respectively – and said:

This decision was based on cost-savings and not due to technical reasons, the firm said in a filing in May , and was accompanied with plans to reduce the workforce by 40%. Epirus also said that with these measures it still only had “sufficient cash resources to continue its operations through the second quarter of 2016.”

The beneficiary of the sale, Polpharma, has been working with Epirus since July 2015 when the two firms struck a development and commercialisation agreement for a number of biosimilar products.

Comparator Sourcing – Clinical Trials – Medizone

Opening up new dimensions in comparator sourcing for clinical trials.
Being a pioneer means having a vision. Medizone as a strategic comparator sourcing partner for clinical trials and specialist for biosimilars focusses on integrated customized solutions with the highest standard of quality and service level.

medizone_ad_WorldPharma_online

FDA approves Inflectra, a biosimilar to Remicade

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb) for multiple indications. Inflectra is administered by intravenous infusion. This is the second biosimilar approved by the FDA.

Inflectra is biosimilar to Janssen Biotech, Inc.’s Remicade (infliximab), which was originally licensed in 1998. Inflectra is approved and can be prescribed by a health care professional for the treatment of:

  • adult patients and pediatric patients (ages six years and older) with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy;
  • adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy;
  • patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis in combination with methotrexate;
  • patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine);
  • patients with active psoriatic arthritis;
  • adult patients with chronic severe plaque psoriasis.

The FDA’s approval of Inflectra is based on review of evidence that included structural and functional characterization, animal study data, human pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics data, clinical immunogenicity data and other clinical safety and effectiveness data that demonstrates Inflectra is biosimilar to Remicade. Inflectra has been approved as biosimilar, not as an interchangeable product.

Inflectra is manufactured by Celltrion, Inc, based in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea, for Hospira.

Source: Biosimilar News

EMA accepts Sandoz’s pegfilgrastim submission

Sandoz, announced that EMA has accepted their Marketing Authorization Application for its biosimilar to Amgen’s EU-licensed Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) – a long-acting recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).

Sandoz is seeking approval for the same indication as the reference product.

Pegfilgrastim is a prescription medicine used in cancer patients (except those with chronic myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes) to help with some of the side effects of their treatment. It reduces the duration of neutropenia and the incidence of febrile neutropenia that are a result of their chemotherapy treatment. The incidence of febrile neutropenia occurring with common chemotherapy regimens is 25 to 40% of treatment-naive patients.

“Sandoz is the leading provider of daily G-CSF in Europe and the regulatory filing of our biosimilar pegfilgrastim further cements our commitment to patients undergoing cancer treatment” said Mark McCamish, M.D., Ph.D., and Head of Global Biopharmaceutical & Oncology Injectables Development at Sandoz.  “If approved, physicians in the EU will have another high-quality Sandoz biosimilar treatment option for patients needing granulocyte colony-stimulating factors” McCamish continued.

Sandoz believes that the totality of evidence in its submission, including three pivotal clinical trials – one pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study in healthy volunteers and two comparative efficacy and safety studies in breast cancer patients – is expected to satisfy the regulatory requirements for demonstrating high similarity to the reference product and therefore justifies use of biosimilar pegfilgrastim in the reference product’s indication.

Source: Sandoz Press release