Oncology

Study finds patients with cancer feel reassured that biosimilars provide a safe, adequate, and cost-effective alternative to the pricier reference drug.

A Chinese study proved that combination therapy with sintilimab and a bevacizumab biosimilar was cost-effective enough in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to warrant use of the biosimilar over the reference product (Avastin) without compromising safety or efficacy.

Despite global sales for Amjevita (adalimumab-atto) growing by 29% year-over-year and the agent being the first adalimumab biosimilar on the US market, sales in the United States dropped 63% from the first quarter to the second quarter of 2023.

Abstracts presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO 2023) emphasized the safety and efficacy of a trastuzumab biosimilar in treating HER2-positive breast cancer and growing utilization of trastuzumab biosimilars over time.

Reference bevacizumab and proposed biosimilar (BAT1706) demonstrate high similarity to each other.

The second edition of Samsung Bioepis’ Biosimilar Market Report shows strong correlation between biosimilar usage and decreased drug prices, proving that biosimilars are delivering on the promise of savings and price erosion.

Biosimilars may be able to increase treatment access for traditionally excluded communities, especially racial and ethnic minority populations.

Implementing strategies, such as dose rounding, can offset the impact of drug waste and reduce the total cost of care for value-based programs, according to a recent study of practices participating in the Oncology Care Model.

After 8 years of trastuzumab biosimilar competition and slow uptake, a new report shows that trastuzumab biosimilar discounts from the reference product (Herceptin) doubled between 2019 and 2022.

As Sandoz and Just-Evotec Biologics announce a new partnership, Celltrion secures tender wins in Italy and Belgium, and Alvotech begins testing its golimumab biosimilar in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals has announced the launch of its pegfilgrastim biosimilar, Fylnetra (pegfilgrastim-pbbk), for the treatment and prevention of febrile neutropenia, making it the sixth biosimilar referencing Neulasta to enter the US market.

In the first edition of Samsung Bioepis’ Biosimilar Market Report, the company outlined the current state of the US biosimilars market and how increasing adoption has had an impact on pricing changes for biosimilars and their reference products.

The authors of what they say is the largest and longest follow-up study comparing the trastuzumab biosimilar SB3 to the reference product (Herceptin) in HER2-positive breast cancer found “no clinically meaningful difference” between the biosimilar and the reference product.

A review article investigating the use of bevacizumab biosimilars found that despite lingering concerns about their usage for extrapolated indications, bevacizumab biosimilars are regularly used in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) even though clinical tests only evaluate them in patients with lung cancer.

Over the past week, Vegzelma, a bevacizumab biosimilar, launched in the United States; 2 biologics license applications (BLAs) for biosimilars were accepted for review by the FDA; and China’s regulatory agency approved a denosumab biosimilar.

A study assessing factors that may determine a commercial health plan’s likelihood of covering a biosimilar found that biosimilars that are cancer therapies, used to treat children, indicated for highly prevalent conditions, or only competing against the originator were more likely to have coverage restrictions.

Authors of a single-center, real-world study in Turkey found that patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who received a rituximab biosimilar had similar overall survival to patients who received the originator. However, progression-free survival was longer in the originator group.

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use gave a thumbs up for an eculizumab biosimilar, and a biologic license application for a bevacizumab biosimilar was accepted in Brazil.

The European Union gained another high-concentration adalimumab biosimilar with the approval of Sandoz’ Hyrimoz HCF and the FDA accepted a biologics license application for a trastuzumab biosimilar (HLX02).

The FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) accepted applications for a trastuzumab biosimilar and an ustekinumab biosimilar, respectively, and Altos Biologics completed patient enrollment for a phase 3 trial assessing an aflibercept biosimilar.

The FDA approved the prefilled autoinjector version of Coherus Biosciences’ pegfilgrastim biosimilar (Udenyca), which will allow for patients at risk of febrile neutropenia to administer a full dose of pegfilgrastim at home.

Authors of a review of safety results across indications and study designs on the epoetin alfa biosimilar HX575 concluded that HX575 “has repeatedly demonstrated long-term safety” in all approved indications in both clinical trials and real-world studies.

According to the authors of a cost-effectiveness analysis of treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China, sintilimab plus a bevacizumab biosimilar could improve quality of life for patients, but at a higher cost than lenvatinib.

Fresenius Kabi announced a global partnership with Formycon for an ustekinumab biosimilar; Similis Bio partners with Novel351K to co-develop 3 biosimilars; and Celltrion Healthcare launched its bevacizumab biosimilar in Japan.

Fresenius Kabi announced the US launch of its pegfilgrastim biosimilar Stimufend (pegfilgrastim-fpgk), making it the fifth biosimilar referencing Neulasta to enter the market.

Biocon Biologics and its partner Viatris received a complete response letter (CRL) for their biosimilar referencing Avastin (bevacizumab), the second CRL for the companies in 2023. The news comes as Biocon publishes increased revenues for biosimilars and generics.

Formycon shared positive data on its Eylea (aflibercept) biosimilar; Sandoz received a thumbs up from the European Union’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP); and Shanghai Henlius Biotech began a phase 1 study for its daratumumab biosimilar candidate.

Saudi Arabia approved an adalimumab biosimilar, a denosumab biosimilar entered the market in the Republic of Korea, and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories announced the completion of a phase 3 study for its rituximab biosimilar.

IQVIA’s Global Use of Medicines Report for 2023 has revealed increased uptake of biosimilars around the world and predicted that biosimilars could generate nearly $300 billion in savings by 2027.

Celltrion Healthcare’s candidate bevacizumab biosimilar CT-P16 demonstrated equivalent efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity to Avastin (reference bevacizumab), in a phase 3 clinical trial in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).