Posted by Michael Wonder on 21 Jun 2018
FDA takes steps to foster greater efficiency in biosimilar development by reconsidering draft guidance on evaluating analytical studies
21 June 2018 - Today, the agency withdrew the draft guidance, “Statistical Approaches to Evaluate Analytical Similarity,” issued in September 2017.
The draft guidance, if finalized as written, was intended to provide advice for sponsors developing biosimilar products regarding the evaluation of analytical similarity between a proposed biosimilar product and a reference product. After considering public comments that the agency received about the draft guidance, the FDA determined it would withdraw the draft guidance as it gives further consideration to the scientific and regulatory issues involved.
Comments submitted to the docket addressed a range of issues that could impact the cost and efficiency of biosimilar development, including the number of reference product lots the draft guidance would recommend biosimilar developers sample in their evaluation of high similarity and the statistical methods for this evaluation. The FDA believes that in better addressing these issues in the future, the agency can advance principles that can promote a more efficient pathway for the development of biosimilar products.
