FDA panel recommends approval of Hospira’s Epogen biosimilar

NEW YORK — Pfizer on Thursday announced the Food and Drug Administration Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee recommended approval of the company’s proposed Epogen and Procrit (epoetin alfa) biosimilar across all indications. According to Pfizer, this marks the first time a biosimilar erythropoiesis-stimulating agent has been recommended for approval by a U.S. FDA Advisory Committee.

The committee’s recommendation was based on its review of the totality of evidence, including the demonstration of comparable efficacy and safety of biosimilar epoetin alfa to its reference product, Epogen and Procrit (epoetin alfa).

Pfizer is seeking FDA approval for treatment of anemia due to: chronic kidney disease in patients on dialysis and not on dialysis; Zidovudine in HIV-infected patients; the effects of concomitant myelosuppressive chemotherapy, and upon initiation, there is a minimum of two additional months of planned chemotherapy; and reduction of allogeneic red blood cell transfusions in patients undergoing elective, noncardiac, nonvascular surgery.

“The Ccommittee’s recommendation reinforces the potential value of biosimilars in expanding access to additional high-quality treatment options for the patients in the U.S. who need them,” said Diem Nguyen, Global President, Americas, Pfizer Essential Health. “Following the approval and launch of Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb) in 2016, this positive recommendation — a first for a proposed ESA biosimilar — marks an important milestone for Pfizer’s U.S. biosimilars portfolio.”

The FDA will take the committee’s recommendation into consideration before taking action on the Biologics License Application for the proposed epoetin alfa biosimilar across all indications.

Pfizer has entered into an agreement with Vifor Pharma for the commercialization of its proposed epoetin alfa biosimilar in certain channels.