18^th European Biosimilars Congress

Legal Issues and BPCI Act

The legal issues pertaining to the follow-on-biologics and biosimilars are one of the most aspects that requires an open discussion. Before the actual advent of biosimilars to the market legal issues have risen in numbers in their developmental stages. Renowned organizations have filed cases against each other two claim their rights and for other legal allegations related to the products. This track is dedicated to discussion of all such cases which has been argued in the court of law.

By 2002, the FDA had approved 36 new biologics, followed by 37 more in 2003, another 40 in 2004 and 39 more in 2005. By 2006, the leading category of biologic treatment, the red blood cell enhancer recombinant erythropoietin (EPO), generated $14 billion in sales revenues, or 40 percent more than the best-selling traditional pharmaceutical, Lipitor. More than 300 therapeutic antibodies currently are in clinical development and trials, compared to just 13 that already are widely available due to legal issues.