title: Clinical development of biosimilars: an evolving landscape.
abstract: Biosimilars, or similar biological medicinal products, can provide a meaningful option for patients and physicians provided they deliver the therapeutic value of a reference product at a more modest cost. Unlike generic small-molecule drugs that require primarily the demonstration of pharmaceutical equivalence, the complex nature of protein therapeutics warrants a rigorous evaluation of both pharmaceutical and therapeutic equivalence to the reference product in an abbreviated clinical program. Furthermore, the lack of comprehensive structure-activity relationship data increases the burden on appropriately designed human clinical studies with predefined acceptance criteria to demonstrate the absence of clinically meaningful differences between the biosimilar and reference product. Although a number of biosimilar proteins have been approved, especially in Europe, issues on substitutability, extrapolation to other disease indications, and selection of reference standards and comparators, remains to be standardized at a global level.
authors: Translational Medicine, Biogen Idec, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. meena.subramanyam@biogenidec.com
authors: Meena
authors: M
authors: Subramanyam
mesh_terms: D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D033161:Government Regulation; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D055261:Immunogenetic Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency
chemical_list: D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals; D007328:Insulin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor