Oncology

A study presented at ASCO20 Virtual demonstrated the power of biosimilar pegfilgrastim to lower costs in the Oncology Care Model (OCM), where pegfilgrastim expense amounts to 5.3% of the total cost of cancer care.

Fresenius Kabi has tapped pharmaceuticals distribution company medac to amplify sales of its pegfilgrastim biosimilar in Germany.

Despite the United States’ slow start in biosimilar uptake, history shows that things can change, according to Michael Kolodziej, MD, who presented at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 2020 Virtual Conference.

Fresenius Kabi USA announced that the FDA has accepted its biologics license application for the pegfilgrastim biosimilar candidate MSB11455.

Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP, clinical coordinator of Hematology and Oncology in the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and past president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), discusses physician struggles tied to biosimilar utilization, the upcoming initiatives for the ACCC Biosimilars Center, and why physicians should be keeping an eye on biosimilars.

Ruth O’Regan, of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, discusses improving the patient discussion on biosimilars, in an interview.

On the heels of positive clinical studies, Fresenius Kabi said the European Medicines Agency will review its product application for a pegfilgrastim biosimilar.

Drug rebates have survived despite the payment reforms imposed by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, and now payers are taking advantage of them, too, panelists noted at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 2020 Virtual Annual Conference.

Patient preferences play a large role in the effort to get biosimilars into the mainstream of therapeutics, and education is often a struggle, panelists said at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 2020 Virtual Annual Conference.

A study of coverage decisions by some of the nation’s largest payers indicates biosimilars get preferred status just 14% of the time.

Fresenius Kabi’s pegfilgrastim biosimilar candidate has demonstrated a similar safety and immunogenicity profile to the reference product (Neulasta).

A study of filgrastim and pegfilgrastim biosimilars demonstrated data are sufficiently large to support an investigation on the effectiveness of these agents.

Biocon said a subsidiary’s manufacturing centers in Bengaluru, India, were cleared by European Union authorities for biosimilar production.

Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP, clinical coordinator of Hematology and Oncology in the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and past president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), discusses the anticipated growth for the US biosimilar market and what the ACCC is doing to further uptake efforts.

In a trio of studies, investigators were able to demonstrate equivalency of Samsung Bioepis’ trastuzumab biosimilar in various settings.

Investigators use the HERITAGE trial findings to argue for a more precise way of measuring clinical equivalence for biosimilars.

With successful findings from a phase 3 trial of its bevacizumab biosimilar candidate, Iranian company AryoGen Pharmed is a step closer to commercialization of this product.

With 1 biosimilar launch and expanded indications for another biosimilar so far this year, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries reported higher biosimilar revenues in the first quarter of 2020.

Although Pfizer has offered a more attractive discount for its rituximab biosimilar, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Celltrion Healthcare have decided not to match that discount for their own rituximab biosimilar, which is more costly.

Amgen saw biosimilar competition eat a larger share of its innovator drug revenue but also earned some biosimilar pocket money of its own.

A smattering of biosimilar launches around the globe and positive results for biosimilar earnings across companies suggested a positive trend in April, despite the ongoing pandemic.

The reasons for biosimilar brand preference in a recent rituximab study were unclear, but investigators said it is clear that savings were a likely factor.

Henlius Biotech said its manufacturing facility has met European standards for production of its trastuzumab biosimilar candidate, which the company said is "a passport" for potential commericialization across the globe.

A retrospective, postmarketing study demonstrates higher incidence of joint and bone pain, neutropenia with certain filgrastim biosimilars, compared with Neupogen.

Cheryl Larson, president and chief executive officer of the Midwest Business Group on Health, discusses the sticker shock of rising specialty drug costs and how biosimilars are going to be incorporated into efforts to push back against this medical inflation.

Biosimilar pricing is not as simple as a manufacturer's stated discount to the reference product cost, according to Adam Brufsky, MD, PhD, FACP, of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in Pennsylvania.

Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put a burden on the economy and the healthcare system in particular, Kashyap Patel, MD, believes that the crisis will likely speed up biosimilar uptake in the United States.

Many additional biosimilars could be on the market by 2025, said presenters at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy eLearning Days virtual meeting.

Posters presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) eLearning Days meeting this week from April 20 to 24 reveal important data on biosimilar utilization management, switching, and affordability.