Dr. Herbst on the Bevacizumab Biosimilar in Lung Cancer

Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD, professor of Medicine, chief of Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital, discusses the bevacizumab (Avastin) biosimilar in lung cancer.

The FDA approved the bevacizumab biosimilar ABP-215 (bevacizumab-awwb; Mvasi) in September 2017. Other potential bevacizumab biosimilars are in late-stage clinical development. Herbst helped with the development of the bevacizumab biosimilar, of which involved a trial that showed the noninferiority of the biosimilar to the original drug. Now, antibodies can be made that are similar to generic antibodies. The hope, says Herbst, is to make biosimilars available to a wider group of patients at a lower price.

The goal of oncology is not only to cure patients of their disease, but be able to provide medications to patients from all walks of life, says Herbst. Biosimilars will give physicians the opportunity to use them in combination with other agents. Herbst believes that the field of oncology will see a wave of biosimilars in the future.