Alex E. Denes, MD, associate professor of medicine, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, discusses biosimilar pricing in oncology.

One of the goals of introducing biosimilars into the oncology landscape is to create competition that will result in decreased drug costs. This is modeled after the success seen with generics, which decreased drug cost significantly since their introduction. Denes believes that biosimilars will drive down the cost of biologics, which is currently extremely high and unsustainable. This is in part due to the cost of clinical trials, which Denes explains cost upwards of $200 million.

Additionally, Denes says that doctors will have a decreased say in the prescription of biosimilars once they are on the market. Although it is up to the clinician to order the drug, there are pressures from hospital systems, payers, and healthcare plans to choose the biologic or the biosimilar. If the copay for the biosimilar is lower than the biologic, then that might persuade patients to request the biosimilar.

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Alex E. Denes, MD, associate professor of medicine, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, discusses biosimilar pricing in oncology.
 

Dr. Denes Discusses Biosimilar Pricing in Oncology

Alex E. Denes, MD, associate professor of medicine, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, discusses the use of biosimilars in the treatment of patients with cancer.

There have been several FDA approved biosimilars that extend beyond breast cancer into lymphoma and supportive care. Theoretically, a biosimilar should have the same efficacy as the original drug. As long as it meets the FDA criteria, Denes states that he has no problem administering a biosimilar and that he is comfortable prescribing one.

Generally, determining whether to administer a biosimilar versus the original drug is based on insurance approval or hospital cost savings. Denes cautions that there is no reason to give a biosimilar unless it is less expensive.

MYL-1401O (Ogivri; trastuzumab-dkst) is currently the only trastuzumab (Herceptin) biosimilar approved by the FDA. Filgrastim-sndz (Zarxio) is a commonly used biosimilar for the G-CSF analog filgrastim (Neupogen). SB3 is another potential trastuzumab biosimilar under investigation.

Alex E. Denes, MD

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