Ivabradine exhibited interesting pricing dynamics in the UK in June, with the average cost of the heart failure treatment more than trebling despite the lowest offer in the market remaining stable.

Fresh impetus is needed to help biosimilars achieve their full potential in France, according to off-patent industry association Gemme. The organization has unveiled a three-point plan to bolster the sector that includes proposals to allow pharmacists to substitute biosimilars for brand prescriptions under certain circumstances.

When Mark Samuels took over leadership of the BGMA earlier this year, he was immediately forced to grapple with the twin pressures of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he tells Generics Bulletin in an exclusive interview, the UK off-patent industry has succeeded in maintaining supply against this difficult backdrop and deserves a more coherent government strategy to support the sector.

Gentamicin prices saw huge increases in the UK in May, with the average shooting up by almost 600%.

Over the past five years, around a tenth of the US generics market’s total value has been ceded by oral solid dose generics to other formulations, IQVIA’s Doug Long told the AAM’s “Access!” annual meeting at the end of May.

Panellists at a recent webinar hosted by Sandoz on “unlocking the potential of biosimilars” agreed that biologics are increasingly advancing to first-line treatments. However, industry and regulatory leaders cited lack of education as a significant barrier to biosimilars uptake. The experts also offered reasons for the reduced uptake in immunology biosimilars compared to oncology. 

Samsung Bioepis reiterated that the US pharma market is “the most fragmented and the most complicated market in the world” as it discussed its biosimilar fortunes in Europe.

Etoricoxib led the steepest price rises for UK generics in April, with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug seeing average prices almost double.

Australia’s GBMA off-patent industry association has welcomed the announcement of significant healthcare investment in the country’s federal budget.