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Canadian Province Expands Biosimilar Switching, But Patient Group Voices Concerns

 
• By Aidan Fry

British Columbia’s move to switch gastrointestinal patients to biosimilar infliximabs by March 2020 has pleased local industry but upset an originator-backed patients’ group.

Cockpit
Patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are to be switched to biosimilars in Canada's British Columbia province • Source: Shutterstock

Around 1,700 gastroenterology patients currently taking Remicade (infliximab) in British Columbia will have six months to transition to Pfizer’s Inflectra or Merck’s Renflexis biosimilars after the Canadian province expanded its biosimilars switching program. But patient group Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is pushing back against what it considers to be “non-medical switching.”

In late May, British Columbia’s government announced a program that included allowing about 20,700 patients with ankylosing spondylitis, diabetes, plaque...

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More from Biosimilars

Reshaped Xbrane Allies With OneSource For Commercial Biosimilar Manufacturing

 
• By Dean Rudge

Xbrane Biopharma is partnering with India’s OneSource Specialty Pharma to manufacture its biosimilars, including its much-delayed ranibizumab product Ximluci. The move follows a SEK240m funding round and strategic refocus on commercialization after divesting key R&D assets to Alvotech.

Regeneron Monitoring Eylea Biosimilar Closely Following Innovative Setbacks

 
• By Dean Rudge

Regeneron says it is closely watching Amgen’s Pavblu 2mg aflibercept biosimilar, which is gaining traction via financial incentives to physicians as “the only differentiator” to its Eylea reference brand. Meanwhile, Regeneron is aiming to boost Eylea HD uptake amid regulatory setbacks.

Stelara Biosimilar Sees Stada’s Specialty Sales Start Strong In Q1

 
• By Dave Wallace

Stada’s Specialty division was boosted by the firm’s launch last year of a European Stelara biosimilar, even as generics growth remained muted in Q1.

Formycon Snatches Brazilian Approval For Lucentis Biosimilar

 
• By Urtė Fultinavičiūtė

Formycon is preparing to start a new era – entering Latin America with its ranibizumab biosimilar, which is expected to be a “good contributor” to the firm’s finances.

More from Products

Generic Drug Office’s Policy Staff Returning To US FDA

 
• By Derrick Gingery

The group had been laid off as part of the 1 April reduction-in-force, which lead to missed guidance publication deadlines.

Stelara Biosimilar Sees Stada’s Specialty Sales Start Strong In Q1

 
• By Dave Wallace

Stada’s Specialty division was boosted by the firm’s launch last year of a European Stelara biosimilar, even as generics growth remained muted in Q1.

Formycon Snatches Brazilian Approval For Lucentis Biosimilar

 
• By Urtė Fultinavičiūtė

Formycon is preparing to start a new era – entering Latin America with its ranibizumab biosimilar, which is expected to be a “good contributor” to the firm’s finances.