04 Mar 21 | US | The US Senate unanimously passed the Ensuring Innovation Act and the Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act. The Ensuring Innovation Act aims to stop ‘evergreening’ by preventing pharmaceutical companies from claiming new innovations when they make insignificant modifications to their products. Under the current system, innovators are able to extend patent exclusivities by 5 years when one of these modifications is made. The Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act aims to improve confidence in the safety and effectiveness of biosimilars by providing patients and providers with educational materials. These materials would include information about the standards for review and licensing of biosimilar products, relevant considerations for prescribers and the process of reporting adverse events for biological products. This material could be presented in webinars, videos, fact sheets and stakeholder toolkits.
10 Mar 21 | US | Lannett announced it had received comments from the FDA related to the pivotal trial protocol and statistical analysis plan for its biosimilar insulin glargine program. Lannett said that it was comfortable with the feedback, and remains on track to submit an IND to the FDA later this calendar year. The pivotal trial is expected to commence in early 2022, with the BLA to be filed later in 2022 and launch expected in 2023.