What is a biosimilar? All you need to know about the current biologics and biosimilars landscape in Canada

What is a biosimilar?
The current biologics and biosimilars landscape in Canada
November 12, 2015
Karen A. Burke, Ph.D.
Director, Regulatory Affairs, Amgen Canada Inc.
© 2015 Amgen Inc. All rights reserved.

Safe Harbor Statement
This presentation contains forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number
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customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking
statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange
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Our business performance could affect or limit the ability of our Board of Directors to declare a dividend or our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase
our common stock.

What we’re going to cover today…
• Biologics: a quick overview
• Biosimilars / Subsequent Entry Biologics (SEBs)
– Growing interest in biosimilars
– What we can learn from Europe
– Health Canada perspective
– What’s in a name?
– Considerations on pricing
– Patient safety/patient choice
• Discussion

Biologics are…
used to treat serious
diseases, including cancer,
blood conditions,
auto-immune disorders and
neurological disorders
Biologics are…
typically made in living
organisms, mainly by
genetically engineering DNA
Biologics are…
far more complex than
traditional chemical
medicines (“small
molecules”)
Biologics are…
large molecules
The basics of biologics
And…
manufacturing matters

Why does manufacturing matter?
• Biologic medicines are typically made in living organisms
mainly by genetically engineering DNA
• The DNA is introduced into cells, and a particular cell line
is selected for expansion
• The cell line is expanded in bioreactors
• The biologic drug is then isolated and purified using highly
sophisticated and controlled technology

Original
Biologic Biosimilars
What are biosimilars?
Biosimilars are approved
based, in part, on the
studies done with the
reference product
Biosimilars are similar to the
reference product, but they
are virtually never the same
Biosimilars are copies of
biologic drugs developed
after the patent has expired
on an originator drug
(the ‘reference product’)

Seemingly minor differences can lead to
products with different characteristics
Burgundy
France
Santa Ynez
California
“Burgundian”
Earthy
“Californian”
Fruity
Temperate climate
Frequent rainfall
Intermittent sunshine
Hot
Rare rainfall
Constant sunshine
Pinot Noir
SEBs are similar…But not identical…
SEBs are similar…

Why is there growing interest in
biosimilars?
Biologics represent
approximately 1% of claims2
Biologic sales are growing
at 14% per year vs. 4% for
others
17% of drug spend is
allocated to biologics
It is estimated that by 2020,
the US, EU, Japan and
Canada will spend over $1
trillion on medicines1
Patent expiry could offer
opportunities for drug spend
savings

Biosimilar landscape in Europe
Biosimilar medicines have been available in the
European Union (EU) for several years
The necessary legal framework for biosimilar
medicines was adopted in the EU in 20051
The first biosimilar medicines (human growth
factor) were approved by the European
Commission in April 20062

While not predictive of the future, the EU
biosimilars experience is informative
 Because biosimilars are not
generics, the market has not
reacted in a typical generic
fashion
 ESA biosimilars have captured
about 17% of the total EU
market by volume, and GCSF
biosimilars about 35%
 Originator products continue to
be prescribed and utilized for
years after biosimilars entry
Legend:
ESA (Nephrology)
ESA (Oncology)
ESA Average of Nephrology & Oncology
GCSF
ESA - Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent
GCSF - Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor

Canada’s biosimilar landscape
In 2015, Health Canada approved a biosimilar insulin. More biosimilars are anticipated
to become available in Canada over the next few years.
In 2014, Health Canada approved Celltrion’s Remsima™ and Inflectra™. Both are
biosimilar versions of Remicade® and are both named infliximab.
Health Canada’s guidance on biosimilars was issued in 2010
In 2009, Health Canada approved Sandoz’ file for for Omnitrope™ - a recombinant
human growth hormone

Health Canada’s position on SEBs
Biosimilars are not
‘GENERIC’ BIOLOGICS

Health Canada does not support
automatic substitution

Important: the approvals for the biosimilar(s)may
not be identical to the originator
• In approving Remsima®/Inflectra®, Health Canada did not
grant all indications held by the originator Remicade®
Remicade® Remsima® and
Inflectra®
Indications RA, JIA, AS, PsA, PsO,
adult Crohn’s, pediatric
Crohns, fistulising
Crohn’s, adult ulcerative
colitis, pediatric
ulcerative colitis
RA, PsA, AS, PsO

What’s in a name?
Crestor® (rosuvastatin)
Remicade® (infliximab)
• INNs are managed by The World Health Organization (WHO)
• For small molecules, the same INN is given to both the original “brand” product
and the generic versions, because the active ingredients are identical ).
WHO
BRAND NAME
INTERNATIONAL
NONPROPRIETARY NAME, INN
As biosimilars are not identical to the originator, they should have distinguishable
names (brand and INNs)

WHO’s biological qualifier
An INN proposal
– The WHO’s draft proposal for naming was released in July 2014
– That biosimilars be named using the current INN system, adding a
unique identification code (Biological Qualifier), which is to be a four-
letter code at the end of the drug name in order to distinguish the
biosimilar drug from the biologic
– The four-letter code will be assigned at random
– Final proposal pending
WHO policy on biosimilar naming is not yet agreed, nor have
Health Canada or FDA taken a firm decision

Drug 1
Drug 2
Drug 3
Drug 4
and
brand name
Taking a closer look at why a
distinguishable name is important
If a prescription is
written with
INN
Patient could receive
Patient will receive
Removing uncertainty
In the absence of a distinguishable INN, biologics prescriptions should include both INN
and brand name

Reporting adverse events: the importance of traceability
for patients and prescribers
It is unclear which
medicine should be
linked to the
adverse event
Pharmacist dispenses an
one of many biologics
with same INN
Physician
prescribes by
brand name
and INN
Pharmacist dispenses
stated brand or contacts
physician to agree change
Patient may have received
one biosimilar, followed by
another on the next
dispensing
In the event of an AE,
reporter knows exactly
which brand the patient
was dispensed
Physicians know
which drugs are
linked to adverse
events
Physician
prescribes by
INN only
If AE occurs
If AE occurs
INN only
Brand and INN
© 2015 Amgen Inc. All rights reserved.
In the absence of unique
identifiers for all biologics,
prescribing by brand name and
INN supports accurate
dispensing and correct
identification of the brand in
case of adverse events

Considerations on pricing
• Unlike for generic small molecules, biosimilar manufacturers have to
appropriately invest in clinical development, manufacturing and post-
approval safety monitoring programs similar to that of innovators1,2
• Because of this development investment, cost savings achievable for
biosimilars may not be as large as for generics3
• The European experience with biosimilars has shown that cost savings can
be expected between the 10-30% range4

Patient safety/patient choice
A person prescribed a biosimilar may have a different response than if they had been
prescribed the originator biologic - and vice versa - because the two are not identical
Switching back and forth between drugs is thought to potentially
increase the risk of an immune response against the drug itself.
Physicians should be well-informed on each product’s benefit/risk
profile and how it evolves over time.
Physicians, in consultation with their patients, should retain the
decision-making role in the choice of which drug is most appropriate
for their patient and the condition being treated.

Biosimilars
Amgen’s position on biosimilars
• Amgen believes that biosimilars have a role to play in the health care system
• Biosimilars -- unlike generic drugs -- are not identical to the originator
products they attempt to copy
• Amgen’s guiding principles:
Ensuring quality
manufacturing
Ensuring patient safety Following sound science

In summary…
• Manufacturing processes of biologics are complex, distinct and unique to
each manufacturer
• Biosimilars, by definition, are ‘similar’ but not identical to the originator
drug
• Approval does not mean that a biosimilar is interchangeable with the
originator drug
 All biologic medicines should have distinguishable names
• Biosimilars have a role to play in healthcare
• Access and cost are important, as are patient safety, high quality and
reliable supply
• Physician/patient choice is critical in the decision-making process of which
medicine a patient should receive

Discussion
Please visit Amgen’s biosimilars website
http://www.amgen.ca/english/science/biosimilars.html

Canadian Cancer Survivor Network
Contact Info
Canadian Cancer Survivor Network
1750 Courtwood Crescent, Suite 210
Ottawa, ON K2C 2B5
Telephone / Téléphone : 613-898-1871
E-mail jmanthorne@survivornet.ca or mforrest@survivornet.ca
Web site www.survivornet.ca
Blog: http://jackiemanthornescancerblog.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @survivornetca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CanadianSurvivorNet
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/survivornetwork/

What is a biosimilar? All you need to know about the current biologics and biosimilars landscape in Canada

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What is a biosimilar? All you need to know about the current biologics and biosimilars landscape in Canada