Dr. Klebanoff on Biosimilars Reducing Financial Toxicity in Breast Cancer

Christopher A. Klebanoff, MD, medical oncologist, head, Breast Immunotherapy Section, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses using biosimilars to reduce financial toxicity in breast cancer.

Biosimilars will greatly reduce the financial toxicity of many therapeutics available to patients with breast cancer, most notably patients with HER2-positive disease, explains Klebanoff. In addition to the cancer treatments, there are other biologics, specifically granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, that are commonly used in the adjuvant setting as a neutrophil immune booster that can also cause financial toxicity, says Klebanoff.

With biosimilars, the registration data demonstrate equivalence similar to conventional generics in terms of efficacy and reduced financial cost, making them a positive option for patients and providers, concludes Klebenoff.