Dr. Arun Considers Biosimilars in the Context of Global Cancer Care

Banu Arun, MD, professor in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses biosimilars in the context of global cancer care.

There are pros and cons to the use of biosimilars, explains Arun. Some of the studies that were reported at the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting looked very promising. However, it is important to consider biosimilars in the context of global cancer care as well, says Arun.

Biosimilars are enabling physicians all over the world to treat their patients with these agents. Targeted agents are very expensive, explains Arun, and it is very disheartening for both physicians and patients alike to forego treatment because of lack of access. For example, when trastuzumab (Herceptin) became available, many countries did not have access to it. Biosimilars will therefore be very important in bridging this gap, explains Arun.