Dr. Mato on the Use of Biosimilars in CLL

Anthony R. Mato, MD, MSCE, hematologic oncologist, director, CLL Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the use of biosimilars in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

In July 2019, the FDA approved PF-05280586 (rituximab-pvvr; Ruxience), a biosimilar for rituximab (Rituxan), in combination with chemotherapy for patients with CD20-positive CLL.

Though Mato has not implemented biosimilars in clinical practice, he believes their use will become widespread if real-world studies demonstrate similarity between the biologic and the biosimilar. In theory, he states, these drugs should lead to similar outcomes to the biologic drug.