Oncology

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), filgrastim, and its long-acting pegylated form, pegfilgrastim, are widely used to reduce the risk of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, but to date, no pegfilgrastim biosimilar has been approved in highly regulated markets such as Europe, Japan, and the United States.

Yesterday, Biocon withdrew from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) its applications for the authorization of biosimilar trastuzumab and pegfilgrastim.

Treatment guidelines for ovarian and cervical cancer recommend the use of the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab (Avastin), but patient access to this medication and other angiogenesis inhibitors is limited.

A phase 1 trial of ABP 980, Amgen’s proposed biosimilar of reference trastuzumab (Herceptin), demonstrated ABP 980’s pharmacokinetic similarity to both US-approved reference trastuzumab and European Union-approved reference trastuzumab. Amgen and Allergan have submitted applications for approval of ABP 980 with both the FDA and the European Medicines Agency.

On Thursday, the Oncology Business Review (OBR) hosted a panel discussion, “The Advent of Biosimilars in Oncology: Planning Proactively for Change.”

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has issued an official position statement addressing the affordability of cancer drugs. The position was guided, the organization says, by several key principles.

Amgen announced Monday that the FDA has accepted its supplemental Biologics License Application for denosumab.

Research presented at the 22nd Annual International Meeting of The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research demonstrates gaps in physicians’ education on biosimilar agents.

Pegylated version (pegfilgrastim) Neulasta® is the more commonly prescribed agent, with a significantly longer half-life than its predecessor and is the preferred in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy.

According to the authors of a paper published in Lancet Oncology, we may have gathered enough evidence to begin to consider altering how these agents are approved, to speed their path to approval.