Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) announced on 6/1/2018 the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion, recommending marketing authorization for Trazimera, a potential biosimilar to Herceptin (trastuzumab), for the treatment of HER2 overexpressing breast cancer and HER2 overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
The regulatory submission is supported with a comprehensive data package and totality of evidence demonstrating a high degree of similarity to the originator product. This includes results from the primary REFLECTIONS B327-02 clinical comparative study, which demonstrated clinical equivalence and found no clinically meaningful differences between Trazimera and Herceptin in patients with first line HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. As part of the REFLECTIONS clinical trial program for the proposed biosimilar trastuzumab, Trazimera has been studied in nearly 500 patients and across more than 20 countries to date.
”Pfizer is extremely proud to offer expanded biologic treatment options for patients by bringing more affordable, life changing biosimilar medicines to market, and today’s positive recommendation from the CHMP marks one more step forward. Trazimera has the potential to help many patients with HER2 overexpressing cancers across Europe and, if approved, would help address the evolving needs of healthcare systems, physicians, payers and patients, “said Amrit Ray, MD, MBA, Global President, Research & Development, Pfizer Essential Health.
Though the CHMP opinion is good news for the company, it comes after a setback earlier this year. Pfizer received a complete response letter (CLR) from the FDA in in April of 2018 for the same product. The FDA is seeking addtional "technical information".
Trazimera is Pfizer’s fourth biosimilar and first therapeutic oncology biosimilar to receive a positive CHMP opinion from the EMA. The company has a large and active portfolio of biosimilar products. A 2017 Forbes article mentioned that Pfizer is targeting a $7.5 billion addressable market with its biosimilar program.
Herceptin brought in $2.5 billion in the US alone in 2016 and Roche has acted aggressively to protect the blockbuster.