Biosimilars

Biopharm Knowledge Publishing
November 28, 2006
211 Pages - SKU: BKP1765619
License type:
Biosimilars

 
Biosimilars - Evolution or Revolution?

A detailed guide to the factors that will shape this vital market, including company strategies, comparability, regulation, the implications for clinical trials and legal issues. With a chapter written by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) looking at the commercial implications for the biotech and pharmaceutical markets.

The market for biotech drugs grew by 18% in 2005 and now exceeds $50 billion - that’s 10% of the global pharmaceutical market at nearly three times the growth rate. Add to that the fact that most biotech drugs are in the fast-growing specialist sector and that they account for more than 25% of the pharmaceutical pipeline (38% in phase III) and it is clear that the market is not going to slow in the foreseeable future.

But the first biotech drugs were launched in the mid 1980s and now patents have expired on drugs worth more than $13 billion. That doesn’t mean that a generic market will develop in the same way that it has for drugs like simvastatin or amlodipine. The nature of biotech drugs means that bioequivalence cannot be shown in the same way that it can for small molecules. Clinical trials will be required and the cost of launching a biosimilar might be as high as $40 million. That’s a lot less than the $1 billion it can cost to launch a new drug, but a lot more than the $2 million it costs to get approval for a normal generic.

In Europe, the EMEA has issued guidelines and the first biosimilar has been approved. In the USA the FDA still has to act, but the direction is becoming clearer. How this market develops will be vital for all the players involved - major pharma, biotechs, generic companies and CROs.

This detailed, 200+ page report, including a chapter on the commercial implications written by Jo Pisani and Yann Bonduelle of PwC explains the issues and looks at the likely outcomes.

As well as the commercial analysis from PwC the report is edited by Dr Nicole Lyscom and written by leading experts in the field including:
  • Dr Tim Oldham, VP Business Planning and Operations Effectiveness, Mayne Pharma
  • Dr Meena Subramanyam, Senior Director, Clinical science and Technology, Biogen Idec
  • Dr Peter H Kalinka, CEO and Managing Director, Accelsiors Group International
  • Dr Gabrielle Schaeffner, Principal Consultant, Parexel International, Germany
  • Dr Alan Liss, Senior Director, Biotechnology, Duramed Research Inc
  • Dr Antonio Maschino, Partner, D Young and Co
  • Dr Isla Furlong, D Young and Co
Biosimilars is essential reading for anyone in the pharmaceutical, biotech and outsourcing industries from corporate management through development and research to marketing and sales. It gives an authoritative, detailed and clear explanation of the factors that will affect the market for biosimilars and their implications for the market and for the pharmaceutical industry.