Dr. Ali on Incorporating Biosimilars into Cancer Treatment

Haythem Y. Ali, MD, senior medical oncologist, Henry Ford Hospital, discusses the incorporation of biosimilars into cancer treatment.

With the approval of the bevacizumab (Avastin) biosimilar ABP-215 (bevacizumab-awwb; Mvasi), and the trastuzumab (Herceptin) biosimilar MYL-1401O (Ogivri; trastuzumab-dkst), physicians have begun to think about the possibility of incorporating these agents into practice. The choice whether to incorporate biosimilars into clinical practice will most likely be up to payers as opposed to physicians, says Ali. He adds that physicians should understand and not be afraid of using FDA-approved biosimilars. If the biosimilar meets the criteria set forth by the regulatory agencies, then there should be no reason to discriminate against it, he adds.

In the metastatic setting, it is easy to see whether an agent is working or not, Ali says. However, in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting it is not as clear—making the integration of biosimilars intimidating for some physicians. Ali says that he believes biosimilars will be used in the metastatic setting first, and then once physicians become more comfortable with the agents, they will be moved to other lines of treatment.