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Aflibercept vs ranibizumab biosimilars: manufacturing differences that might matter in the long run

Eye volume 40, pages 168–169 (2026)Cite this article

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The emergence of biosimilars has revolutionised the treatment landscape for retinal diseases, with ranibizumab biosimilars leading the way over the past few years across various global markets [1,2,3]. Recently, aflibercept 2 mg biosimilars have gained regulatory approval from prominent authorities such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), paving the way for their clinical application. With numerous aflibercept 2 mg biosimilar molecules currently in development, impending approvals are anticipated [4,5,6].

This article aims to elucidate the key differences between ranibizumab and aflibercept 2 mg biosimilars, focusing on their manufacturing processes. Understanding these differences is crucial, as they may have significant implications for the long-term uptake and adoption of these biosimilar molecules in clinical practice. By examining the nuances of their production, we can better predict their potential impact on market dynamics and patient access to these therapies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lotus Eye Hospital and Institute, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore, TN, India

    Ashish Sharma

  2. University Vita-Salute, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milano, Italy

    Francesco Bandello

  3. Zydus Lifesciences Ltd. Biotech Department, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

    Sanjay Bandyopadhyay

  4. Madhavi Netralaya, Ara, Bihar, India

    Nilesh Kumar

  5. Aster Hospital, Dubai, UAE

    Nikulaa Parachuri

Authors
  1. Ashish Sharma
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  2. Francesco Bandello
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  3. Sanjay Bandyopadhyay
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  4. Nilesh Kumar
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  5. Nikulaa Parachuri
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Contributions

AS: conception, analysis, drafting, integrity check, final approval. FB, SB, NK, NP; drafting, revision, analysis, integrity check.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ashish Sharma.

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Competing interests

Ashish Sharma: CONSULTANT: for Novartis, Allergan, Bayer, Lupin, Sun and Intas, Speaker fee MS Pharma. Francesco Bandello: CONSULTANT: Allergan, Bayer, Boehringer- Ingelheim, FidiaSooft, Hofmann La Roche, Novartis, NTC Pharma, Sifi, Thrombogenics, Zeiss. Sanjay Bandyopadhyay: Employee of Zydus Lifesciences. Nikulaa Parachuri: None. Nilesh Kumar: None.

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Sharma, A., Bandello, F., Bandyopadhyay, S. et al. Aflibercept vs ranibizumab biosimilars: manufacturing differences that might matter in the long run. Eye 40, 168–169 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-025-04167-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-025-04167-5

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