AbbVie's massive Humira discounts are stifling Netherlands biosimilars: report

AbbVie | April 02, 2019

Could a drug's price ever be too low? That’s what some market-watchers are asking in the Netherlands, where AbbVie is discounting Humira as much as 89%. The De Groene Amsterdammer dug into the procurement process for Humira biosimilars after they launched in Europe last year and turned up aggressive discounts that have effectively held off biosimilar rivals. And some of those would-be competitors have pulled back from the market because of those discounts, the newspaper reports. At least 70% of Dutch patients remain on Humira, according to the publication. And no wonder: AbbVie struck a discount of up to 89% in one case to retain business for its original biologic Those discounts could be a red flag for Humira's sales outside the U.S. this year, Bernstein analyst Ronny Gal figures. His team had expected ex-U.S. Humira sales to fall 35% this year, “but if that report is indicative of the broader environment, cuts may be much deeper," he wrote in a note Monday.

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The pharmaceutical industry is constantly evolving, and with new research, regulations, and products, it's essential to keep employees up-to-date with the latest information and knowledge.

Spotlight

The pharmaceutical industry is constantly evolving, and with new research, regulations, and products, it's essential to keep employees up-to-date with the latest information and knowledge.

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BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMA TECH

Cambrex Announces the Acquisition of Snapdragon Chemistry

Cambrex | January 24, 2023

Cambrex, a renowned global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) offering drug substance, product, and analytical services throughout the drug lifecycle, recently announced the completion of its acquisition of Snapdragon Chemistry, a US-based provider of chemical process development services to a diverse range of emerging and established biopharma customers. Snapdragon Chemistry specializes in the development of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) batch and continuous flow processes, employing cutting-edge automated technology and proprietary equipment to address complicated process and analytical development challenges. With its headquarters for R&D and manufacturing in Waltham, Massachusetts, Snapdragon's 70+ employees, including 31 Ph.D. scientists, have strong ties to the local scientific community. Cambrex's CEO Tom Loewald commented, "Today, we welcome our new colleagues from Snapdragon to Cambrex." He added, "With Snapdragon's depth of scientific expertise in API process development, I'm certain our customers will see the benefits of this combination and be delighted to work with Snapdragon's team." (Source – PR Newswire) Cambrex's portfolio of specialized pharmaceutical development and manufacturing solutions continues to grow, with Snapdragon reinforcing its experience in continuous flow production in addition to augmenting the recent investments in continuous flow process development capabilities at its North Carolina facility in High Point. Snapdragon's CEO Matt Bio said, "I am extremely proud of what our team at Snapdragon has built over the years." He further added, "With Cambrex, we have found an ideal home for our customers and employees, and I look forward to continued success as part of Cambrex." (Source – PR Newswire) About Cambrex Founded in 1981, Cambrex is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that offers drug substances, products, and analytical services throughout the drug lifecycle. It provides a variety of specialized medicinal substance technologies and capabilities, such as controlled substances, biocatalysis, continuous flow, material characterization, solid-state science, stability storage and testing, and potent APIs. Cambrex is a trusted partner in the branded and generic markets for the development and manufacturing of API and finished dosage forms. With over 40 years of experience, it has a growing workforce of over 2,300 specialists serving global clients from North America and Europe.

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BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMA TECH

Epredia and Aiforia Join ReMDO’s RegeneratOR Innovation Accelerator

Epredia | January 19, 2023

On January 18, 2023, PHC Group, a healthcare company renowned in diagnostics and life sciences, announced that it would join the RegeneratOR Innovation Accelerator to grow its presence in regenerative medicine. The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) and the RegenMed Development Organization (ReMDO) are the two institutions expediting the discovery and translation of regenerative medicine therapeutics located in the Innovation Quarter. PHC Group, being an early partner of ReMDO's RegeneratOR Test Bed, offered advanced tissue processing technologies as well as support to researchers for prototype and product development. In addition, another ReMDO program, the Innovation Accelerator, was formed to give space and support to companies with innovative or emerging regenerative medicine technologies. PHC Group is now opening a local office within the Innovation Accelerator. Its holding companies and partners include Epredia, a precision cancer diagnostics company whose products are used by researchers and pathologists worldwide, and Aiforia, a medical software company that develops artificial intelligence software for image analysis in pathology. Aiforia's collection of preclinical and clinical pathology instruments is distributed globally by Epredia. The firms work together to deliver slide imaging and AI-based solutions that enable researchers to investigate and extract information beyond the scope of human visual perception. Thus, clinical research, drug discovery, and translational studies with the goal of better understanding disease states are all linked together through diagnostic microscopic imaging and artificial intelligence. PHC Group's presence, along with Epredia and Aiforia's superior technology assistance at the Innovation Accelerator, will also pave the path for RegeneratOR's newest initiative, the RegenMed Clinical Trials Catalyst. As a part of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the academic core of the newly merged Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health, the Catalyst will have access to 5.5 million patients, serving 67 hospitals in North Carolina, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Illinois. About Epredia Epredia is a leading comprehensive laboratory solutions provider for instruments and consumables in anatomic pathology, histology, and cytology. It was established through an acquisition by PHC Group from Thermo Fisher Scientific. The company provides solutions for cancer diagnostics through its renowned brands: Richard Allen Scientific, Erie Scientific, Microm, Shandon, and Menzel-Glaser. Epredia is committed to realizing its aim of advancing cancer diagnostics for patients worldwide in order to save lives.

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BUSINESS INSIGHTS, PHARMA TECH

Dalton Expands Commercial Sterile Manufacturing Capacity

Dalton Pharma Services | February 17, 2023

On February 16, 2023, Dalton Pharma Services, a leading cGMP pharmaceutical firm, announced a significant strategic expansion of its sterile filling and pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities. The capital expansion plan includes a brand-new, state-of-the-art, and fully automated cGMP sterile filling line that can fill syringes, vials and cartridges under isolator technology. The sterile fill line is integrated with a new cGMP lyophilizer to provide customers with complete sterile finished dosage form manufacturing capabilities. In compliance with cGMP aseptic filling regulations, the newly launched sterile filling line supports small-scale commercial production to cater to the global market. Additionally, the capital expansion plan comprises further cGMP non-sterile powder filling capacity, enhanced multi-kilogram API manufacturing capabilities, and a better infrastructure for handling and storing organic solvents. The company's capital expansion plan supports the goal of establishing it as a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO). As part of the Seikagaku Group, Dalton's long-term strategy is to provide pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers with high-quality integrated drug discovery, development, and manufacturing services through its North American facility. Dalton Pharma Services CEO Peter Pekos commented, "This major investment in the expansion of our sterile manufacturing capabilities enables us to meet the needs of our customers as their critical products advance to commercialization." He added, "It also represents a leap forward in both scale and technology for us, placing Dalton at the leading edge of sterile manufacturing capabilities." (Source – PR Newswire) About Dalton Pharma Services Founded in 1986, Dalton is a leading contract pharmaceutical manufacturer that offers integrated chemistry, development, and manufacturing services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients worldwide. The company operates from a 42,000 sq. ft. facility where they provide cGMP manufacturing of APIs, sterile injectables, finished drug products, and solid oral dosage forms. It has the capability to produce APIs in gram-to-kilogram quantities, including sterile APIs, and supports clients at any stage of the regulatory process. Dalton's development services include analytical method development, formulation, and polymorphism screening, among others. Additionally, the company offers over 2,500 reference standards, building blocks, metabolites, and impurities via its Dalton Research Molecules business to support the industry's pharmaceutical research programs.

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