CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Today the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified its first biosimilar medicine – trastuzumab – in a move that could make this expensive, life-saving treatment more affordable and available to women globally. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women.

Detailed explanation-2: -Filgrastim-sndz (Zarxio) is the first biosimilar product approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Detailed explanation-3: -Biosimilars are medicines that are very similar in structure and function to biologics, which are medicines made in living systems (such as yeast, bacteria, or animal cells). Biologics and their biosimilars can be used to treat some diseases, including certain types of cancer.

Detailed explanation-4: -A biosimilar, or biosimilar drug, is a medicine that is very close in structure and function to a biologic medicine. A biologic, or biologic drug, is a medicine made in a living system, such as yeast, bacteria, or animal cells. Biologics used in the treatment of cancer can work in many ways.

Detailed explanation-5: -On July 24, 2014, Sandoz, a Novartis company, became the first firm to file for approval of a biosimilar in the United States through the pathway created by the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009.