PYZCHIVA®

FDA Approves Pyzchiva, a Biosimilar to Stelara

Sandoz has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved biosimilar Pyzchiva®* (ustekinumab-ttwe) 45 mg/0.5 mL and 90 mg/mL pre-filled syringes for subcutaneous injection and 130mg/26mL (5mg/mL) single-dose vial for intravenous infusion. Developed by Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd, it is approved for all indications of its reference medicine and will be commercialized by Sandoz in the US.

  • Pyzchiva® is approved by the FDA for all indications of the reference medicine
    Stelara®† (ustekinumab), a human interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 antagonist including to treat adult
    patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis, moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease and moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis, as well as pediatric patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis.
  • In addition, the FDA provisionally determined that Pyzchiva® would be interchangeable with the
    reference medicine as it is currently subject to an unexpired period of exclusivity for the first
    interchangeable biosimilar biological products.
  • Sandoz intends to launch Pyzchiva® in the US in February 2025.
  • *Pyzchiva® is a trademark of Samsung Bioepis Co. Ltd.† Stelara® is a registered trademark of JOHNSON & JOHNSON (USA).

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GENERIC DRUG APPROVALS

July 2024

  • Indium In-111 Pentetreotide Injection Kit 3mCi/mL
    Approved: July 1, 2024 – Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.
    Used for: Diagnosis and Investigation
    Generic for: Octreoscan
  • Bupivacaine Liposome Injectable Suspension 133mg/10mL (13.3mg/mL) and 266mg/20mL (13.3mg/mL)
    Approved: July 1, 2024 – Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
    Used for: Analgesia
    Generic for: Exparel
  • L-Glutamine Powder for Oral Solution 5gm/packet
    Approved: July 8, 2024 – Novitium Pharma LLC
    Used for: Sickle Cell Disease
    Generic for: Endari
  • Nimodipine Oral Solution 3mg/mL
    Approved: July 9, 2024 – Annora Pharma Private Limited
    Used for: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
    Generic for: Nymalize
  • Tazarotene Topical Cream 0.05%
    Approved: July 15, 2024 – Padagis Israel Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
    Used for: Plaque Psoriasis
    Generic for: Tazorac Cream 0.05%

NYPOZI

FDA Approves Nypozi, a Biosimilar to Neupogen

– Tanvex BioPharma, Inc. has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the biologics license application (BLA) of Nypozi.

  • Nypozi, proposed biosimilar to the reference product Amgen’s NEUPOGEN® – is indicated to
    decrease the incidence of infection, as manifested by febrile neutropenia, in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies receiving myelosuppressive anticancer drugs associated with a significant
    incidence of severe neutropenia with fever.
  • Tanvex’s Nypozi has been launched in Canada in January 2024.

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AHZANTIVE®

FDA Approves Ahzantive, a Biosimilar to Eylea

Formycon AG and Klinge Biopharma GmbH jointly announced that the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved FYB203/Ahzantive®. Ahzantive is an injectable vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor that is a biosimilar to Eylea (aflibercept), and is approved to treat the following eye conditions:

  • Neovascular (Wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
  • Macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO)
  • Diabetic macular edema (DME)
  • Diabetic retinopathy (DR).

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TEPYLUTE

FDA Approves Tepylute (thiotepa) Ready-to-Dilute Injectable Formulation to Treat Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer

Shorla Oncology, a U.S.-Ireland specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the company’s New Drug Application for Tepylute.

  • Tepylute is a liquid form of a well-established, standard of care oncology drug, thiotepa. The new
    formulation eliminates the need for complex and time-consuming reconstitution, which can reduce
    the risk of drug preparation errors.
  • Tepylute is a ready-to-dilute formulation to treat breast and ovarian cancer in an easier-to-prepare,
    injectable product that also enables dosing accuracy.

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American Health Packaging on Behalf of BluePoint Laboratories Issues Recall forPotassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules, USP (750 mg) 10 mEq K Due toFailed Dissolution

American Health Packaging on behalf of BluePoint Laboratories is voluntarily recalling 21
batches of Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules, USP (750mg) 10 mEq K, to the consumer level. The product is being recalled because of failed dissolution.

Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules are used for the treatment of patients with low potassium (hypokalemia) and are packaged in bottles of 100-count (NDC 68001-396-00) and 500-count (NDC 68001-396-03) capsules

Consumers that have Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules subject to the recall should consult
with their physician or health care provider before they stop using the product. Consumers should also
contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related
to taking or using this drug product. Consumers should call Sedgwick, a recall solution vendor, at 1-855-
695-8564, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm EST for return instructions and further information. (Note: One Benecard Central Fill member was affected by this recall and member outreach was completed.)\

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Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA Issues Recall for Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules, USP (750 mg) 10 mEq K Due to Failed Dissolution

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA, Mahwah, NJ is voluntarily recalling 114 batches of Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules, USP (750mg) 10 mEq K, to the consumer level. The product is being recalled because of failed dissolution.

Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules are used for the treatment of patients with low potassium (hypokalemia) and are packaged in bottles of 100-count (NDC 68462-357-01) and 500-count (NDC 68462-357-05) capsules.

Consumers that have Potassium Chloride Extended-Release Capsules subject to the recall should consult with their physician or health care provider before they stop using the product. Consumers should also contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product. Consumers should call Inmar Rx Solutions at 1-877-883-9273, Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EST for return instructions and for further information.
(Note: Nine Benecard Central Fill members were affected by this recall and member outreach was
completed.)

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PiaSky

FDA Approves PiaSky for the Treatment of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved PiaSky (crovalimab-akkz) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 13 years and older with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and body weight of at least 40 kg.

  • Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare and life-threatening blood condition in which
    red blood cells are destroyed by the body’s complement system (part of the innate immune
    system). This causes symptoms such as anemia, fatigue, and blood clots, and can lead to kidney
    disease.
  • PiaSky contains crovalimab-akkz which is a C5 inhibitor that is recycled within the bloodstream,
    enabling sustained complement inhibition through low-dose administration every four weeks.
  • PiaSky is administered as a single loading dose by intravenous infusion on Day 1, followed by four
    additional weekly loading doses administered by subcutaneous injection on Days 2, 8, 15, and 22.
    Maintenance dosing starts on Day 29 and is administered every 4 weeks by subcutaneous injection.

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SOFDRA™

Clinical dermatology company, Botanix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Sofdra™ (sofpironium) gel, 12.45%, a prescription medicine used to treat primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating) in adults and children 9 years and
older.

  • Hyperhidrosis is a condition characterized by abnormally increased sweating, beyond that required
    to regulate body temperature. The disproportionate sweat production that characterizes
    hyperhidrosis, results in a disabling medical condition with profound effects on the patient’s quality
    of life.
  • Sofdra is the first and only new chemical entity approved by the FDA to treat primary axillary
    hyperhidrosis and presents a novel safe and effective solution for patients who have lacked
    treatment options for this socially challenging medical condition.
  • Hyperhidrosis is the third largest dermatology condition (after acne and atopic dermatitis), with
    approximately 10 million patients in the US with primary axillary hyperhidrosis.

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YIMMUGO

FDA Approves Yimmugo to Treat Primary Immunodeficiencies

Grifols announced that Biotest has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Yimmugo, an innovative intravenous immunoglobulin (Ig) therapeutic, to treat primary immunodeficiencies (PID).

  • Yimmugo is a newly developed polyvalent immunoglobulin G preparation from human blood
    plasma to treat immunodeficiencies, in which a part of the body’s immune system is missing or
    does not function properly, and other medical conditions.
  • The sugar-free ready-to-use solution is approved in the US for substitution therapy in primary
  • antibody deficiency syndromes.
  • As the first U.S.-approved medicine in Biotest’s portfolio, Yimmugo is produced using a state-of-the-art process at Biotest’s new FDA-certified “Next Level” production facility in Germany.

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