Dr. Kris on the Impact of Bevacizumab Biosimilars in Lung Cancer

Mark G. Kris, MD, medical oncologist, William and Joy Ruane Chair in Thoracic Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the impact bevacizumab (Avastin) biosimilars could have in lung cancer.

In most cases, biosimilars are viewed similarly to generic drugs, says Kris. In practice, not much attention is paid to whether patients receive a biologic or a generic drug. The same should be true of biosimilars, adds Kris.

Recently, PF-06439535 (bevacizumab-bvzr; Zirabev), a biosimilar for bevacizumab was FDA approved for patients with metastatic or recurrent non—small cell lung cancer. However, bevacizumab is not used commonly in lung cancer, says Kris, who adds that its use has likely decreased since checkpoint inhibitors were approved. Although bevacizumab biosimilars may have limited utility in lung cancer, they could have more of an impact in other diseases where the agent is used more frequently, concludes Kris.