Biologics
Senators Draft Legislation for Follow-On Biologics Approval
Washington, DC (June 22)—Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Michael Enzi (R-WY), and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) agreed on legislation
that would authorize the US Food and Drug Administration (Rockville, MD) to approve follow-on versions of biologic therapies.
The legislation establishes standards by which FDA would approve follow-on biologics, a means to quickly resolve patent disputes,
and provide incentives that encourage innovation and the development of new therapies.
Announcing the legislation, titled the "Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2007," Senator Hatch stated that
biologics are the future of medicine. He remarked, "Just as we did with Hatch–Waxman in 1984, we're giving incentives for
both pioneer and generic drug firms. We're ensuring that we continue to get the latest medical breakthroughs while creating
a clear pathway to get less expensive biologics on the market quickly."
The act would require an applicant to demonstrate the absence of clinically meaningful differences in safety, purity, and
potency between its biosimilar product and the brand product. The demonstration includes analytical data, animal testing,
and at least one clinical study, unless FDA determines this requirement is unnecessary.
Under the legislation, FDA could approve a biosimilar product as interchangeable, thus allowing it to be substituted for the
brand product without the intervention of the prescribing healthcare provider. To demonstrate interchangeability would require
evidence that the biosimilar product produces the same clinical result as the brand product in any patient and presents no
additional risk in terms of safety or diminished efficacy if a patient changes between products.
As an incentive for the development of new biological products and interchangeable biosimilar products, the act grants 12
years of data exclusivity for the brand company, during which a biosimilar product may not be approved. The act also provides
one year of exclusivity for the first interchangeable biological product.
The legislation outlines a process for identifying and resolving patents that the biosimilar product may infringe. The biosimilar
applicant and the brand company together would identify the patents at issue and offer their opinions as to their validity.
The two parties then would either agree to a list of these patents to be litigated first or exchange lists. The brand company
must then sue the biosimilar applicant within 30 days to defend the patents. If a court decides that a patent is valid and
was infringed by the biosimilar product before the 12-year data exclusivity has ended, the court must enjoin infringement
of the patent until it expires. For identified patents not included in this initial litigation, the biosimilar applicant must
give the brand company notice 180 days before it launches its product, and the brand company may then seek a preliminary injunction
to block the launch. -Erik Greb
Regulation
FDA, EMEA, EC Extend Regulatory Collaboration Efforts
Rockville, MD (June 18)—The US Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission (Brussels), and the European Medicines Agency (London) agreed
to extend cooperative activities to the areas of pediatrics and medicinal products for rare diseases (i.e., orphan drugs).
These activities will include scientific dialogue about extensions of therapeutic indications and risk-management plans.
According to a prepared statement, the agreement "builds on the achievements in cooperation on vaccines, oncology, and
pharmacogenomics" with the objective of "promoting and protecting public health, reducing regulatory burden and costs, and
bringing innovative products to patients in a timely manner."
The European Union recently adopted legislation governing pediatric therapeutics. During a meeting with FDA in mid-June, the
EU finalized its "Principles of Interactions" document, which aims to facilitate the timely exchange of scientific information
and ethical issues. The meeting also involved a discussion of "upstream regulatory cooperation on new medicines legislation."
Although no discussion details were released, the agencies announced plans to hold a meeting on a "Transatlantic Workshop
on Administrative Simplification in Medicines in Regulation" on Nov. 28 in Brussels. -Maribel Rios
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