Biosimilars
On August 20, 2021, a group of 16 organizations representing patients, consumers, providers, and taxpayers published an open letter to officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services asking them to consider enacting a zero copay policy for Medicare Part B patients, a move the groups said would improve access to biosimilars and save seniors in Medicare as much as $3 billion in out-of-pocket costs. Read More ›
The development of biosimilar medicines has provided an opportunity for patient utilization of oncology treatments at a lower cost, particularly in individuals for whom biologicals play a predominant role in providing effective therapeutic and supportive care. Although there has been an increase in the use of biosimilars in recent years, challenges to mass adoption remain. According to data presented at the virtual 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology Quality Care Symposium, however, utilization of the biosimilar trastuzumab-anns (Kanjinti) is trending in the right direction. Read More ›
Adoption of biosimilars continues to rise in the United States, but oncologists’ knowledge regarding these agents has not kept pace, according to data presented at the virtual 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Quality Care Symposium. Read More ›
By William King
During the virtual European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2021, 5-year follow-up data from a clinial trial showed comparable results related to cardiac safety and long-term efficacy between trastuzumab (Herceptin) and the biosimilar trastuzumab-dttb (SB3; Ontruzant) in patients with HER2-positive, early or locally advanced breast cancer. These findings were reported in a poster presentation by Xavier Pivot, MD, PhD, General Director, Centre Paul Strauss, Institut de Cancérologie Strasbourg Europe, France, and colleagues. Read More ›
By Anne Rowe
The advent of biologic drugs has had a significant impact on the management of patients with cancer. However, the high costs associated with these agents can hinder treatment access for many patients and place a significant burden on healthcare systems. As several biologics have come off patent over the past few years and more are expected to do so in the near future, biosimilars are poised to play an increasingly important role in reducing healthcare costs. Read More ›
Biosimilars have the potential to create a more sustainable healthcare environment by offering substantial cost-savings and expanding patient access to lifesaving therapies. At the ASCO 2021 virtual annual meeting, Lalan S. Wilfong, MD, Executive Vice President, Value-Based Care and Quality Programs, and Medical Oncologist/Hematologist, Texas Oncology, Presbyterian Cancer Center Dallas, TX, discussed how a community practice model for therapeutic interchange of brand drugs to biosimilars led to a significant increase in utilization of biosimilars and substantial cost-savings over the course of a single year at his institution. Read More ›
As biosimilars are being used more and more in cancer treatment, it is increasingly important that navigators and financial advocates be familiar not only with how they work but also how patients with cancer should go about paying for them, according to Angie Santiago, AA, CRCS-I, lead financial advocate at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center/Jefferson Health. Read More ›
Although the role of biosimilars in the treatment of patients with cancer has been under review by payers and providers for several years, there remains conflicting application regarding policy and strategy. There is a growing need for discussions on biosimilars in the context of the current landscape, utilization and evidence, impact on costs of care, quality and payment reform, and potential policy and strategy solutions. Read More ›
The totality of evidence generated from comparative systematic stepwise assessment of HD201 and trastuzumab reference in terms of analytical, pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and clinical similarity demonstrated the equivalence of HD201 to trastuzumab. Read More ›