Oncology

Bevacizumab biosimilars have the potential to expand access and reduce costs without compromising patient outcomes in advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

The European Medicines Agency Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has issued a positive opinion for the denosumab biosimilars SB16 for all indications referencing Prolia and Xgeva.

In a phase 2 study, the addition of HLX22, an anti-HER2 antibody, to HLX02 biosimilar and XELOX (oxaliplatin and capecitabine) chemotherapy extended progression-free survival (PFS) in untreated HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer patients.

Although financial incentives introduced by Japan's 2022 health policy did not result in a reduction in overall drug costs, biosimilar use in oncology significantly increased.

Henlius and Organon’s pertuzumab biosimilar met phase 3 goals; Meitheal expanded its US biosimilars; Celltrion’s subcutaneous infliximab (Zymfentra) showed monotherapy could be as effective as combination therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.

Adalimumab biosimilars have seen a significant increase in market share, from 2% in early 2024 to 22%, as payers and pharmacy benefit managers begin to prioritize these biosimilars over the reference product, Humira.

Transformative cell and gene therapies (CGT) offer promising treatments for serious conditions, but high costs and complex biologics limit competition, requiring policies that support the development of biosimilars to enhance affordability and patient access.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has modestly boosted oncology biosimilar uptake through Medicare reimbursement, but its impact has been limited due to preexisting competitive market conditions.

The combination of trastuzumab biosimilar and pertuzumab with chemotherapy was effective in treating HER2-positive breast cancer, offering high safety and affordability.

Manitoba’s new policy means that all 10 Canadian provinces now have an initiative to boost biosimilar adoption and savings by transitioning patients on reference agents to biosimilar options.

Products in line to face biosimilar competition are projected to increase their list prices in advance, according to Vizient’s Pharmacy Market Outlook Report for Summer 2024.

Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) partners with GoodRx to offer its unbranded adalimumab biosimilar to patients at an exclusive low price; a new ustekinumab biosimilar launches in Europe; and Mexican officials approve a bevacizumab biosimilar.

A long-awaited report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finds that vertical integration and consolidation have worked against consumers and independent pharmacies.

A Brazilian real-world study found trastuzumab-dkst to be an effective and safe adjuvant therapy for HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer, with clinical outcomes comparable to reference trastuzumab.

As Celltrion publishes phase 3 data on its tocilizumab biosimilar, other companies finalize partnerships, and Formycon begins development for a pembrolizumab biosimilar.

As the weather heats up for the US and Europe, so too did the biosimilar news coming out of June, with clinical trial results from conferences and a study showcasing how to overcome economic and noneconomic barriers to oncology biosimilars.

Two posters presented at the European Hematology Association’s annual meeting (EHA 2024) evaluated how rituximab biosimilars impact quality of life and infusion-related reactions in patients with lymphatic cancers.

Two posters from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting look at Medicare reimbursement trends for originator and biosimilar biologics, as well as a combination therapy utilizing a pegfilgrastim biosimilar in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

The broader adoption of biosimilar drugs has the potential to significantly reduce cancer care costs and improve patient access to more affordable treatments, benefiting both patients and payers. However, a recent review highlights that biosimilar uptake has been hindered by various economic, practical, attitudinal, and psychological factors.

Posters from the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting showcased safety and efficacy data for a trastuzumab biosimilar and an ado-trastuzumab biosimilar in HER2-positive (HER2+) cancers.

American and European regulatory agencies have provided companies with good news, with several biosimilar candidates seeing application acceptances or approvals in Europe.

Posters from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2024 annual meeting demonstrate positive safety and efficacy data for denosumab and pegfilgrastim biosimilars.

At the Festival of Biologics USA, panelists stressed the need for patient-centered communication and education to boost comfort with biosimilars, emphasizing consistent support from health care providers despite restrictive payer policies.

Data from a Cencora study showed some misalignment in payer coverage of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) biosimilars, highlighting that while filgrastim biosimilars are often favored over the originator, reference pegfilgrastim still dominates over its biosimilars.

The approval marks the sixth for a biosimilar referencing Herceptin (trastuzumab) for the treatment of HER2-positive breast and gastric cancers.

Thanks to high biosimilar adoption rates within the community oncology setting, American Oncology Network (AON) saved upwards of $243 million between 2020 and 2023, according to a presentation at the Festival of Biologics USA conference in San Diego, California.

The global biosimilar market is projected to surge from $25.1 billion in 2022 to approximately $1.3 trillion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 17.6%, driven mainly by the increasing prevalence of cancer and the cost-effectiveness of biosimilars, as outlined in a report by Towards Healthcare.

After poor sales for its adalimumab biosimilar, Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) announces layoffs; Teva Pharmaceuticals and mAbxience partner on an oncology biosimilar; Samsung Bioepis begins a phase 3 trial for a biosimilar referencing Keytruda (pembrolizumab).

Despite more biosimilars entering the market and generating significant savings for payers and health care systems, these savings are not resulting in lower out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for patients, according to a recent study.

In its earnings report for the fourth quarter and full year of 2023, Coherus Biosciences detailed its rising revenue growth, which it partly attributed to increased sales for its pegfilgrastim and ranibizumab biosimilars.