Dr. Esteva on Trastuzumab Biosimilar in Breast Cancer

Francisco J. Esteva, MD, PhD, professor, Department of Medicine, director, Breast Medical Oncology Program, NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center, discusses the use of trastuzumab (Herceptin) biosimilars in the treatment of patients with breast cancer.

Biosimilars in breast cancer will likely be used because of the cost benefit they can provide, explains Esteva. Several clinical trials, such as the LILAC study, have shown that a number of trastuzumab biosimilars are as safe and effective as the reference product. One of the trastuzumab biosimilars that have been FDA approved include ABP 980.

Since trastuzumab and its biosimilars are similar in terms of efficacy, Esteva says, they will likely compete in terms of cost.