Trending News Today: Potential Eculizumab Biosimilar Shows Bioequivalence in Study

Amgen’s ABP 959 demonstrated bioequivalence to its reference product eculizumab (Soliris, Alexion) in a phase 1 trial, The Center for Biosimilars reported. According to the article, the trial included 219 healthy volunteers randomized to receive a 300-mg intravenous infusion of either the proposed biosimilar, the European Union reference, or the US reference. Overall, the geometric mean ratios of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters after a single infusion were similar among all 3 groups, the article reported.

A new study found that common pain medications called gabapentinoids, which include pregabalin and gabapentin, may increase users’ risks for suicidal behavior, unintentional overdose, injuries, and car accidents, Reuters reported. According to the article, the researchers examined data on 191,973 individuals prescribed pregabalin or gabapentin from 2006 to 2013. Overall, compared with patients who weren’t taking a gabapentinoid drug, the risk while taking pregabalin or gabapentin was 26% higher for suicidal behavior or suicide, 24% higher for accidental overdose, 22% higher for head or body injuries, and 13% higher for car crashes and traffic offenses, the article reported.

A new survey from WebMD and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center looked at public knowledge and attitudes about the safety and efficacy of liver transplants from living donors, The Hill reported. According to the article, 68% of survey respondents said they were not knowledgeable about liver disease and approximately 80% had little knowledge of the liver transplant process. Additionally, 43% of respondents thought liver transplants were mostly needed because of drug or alcohol abuse, the article reported.