Dr. Vidal on Increasing Access to HER2-Targeted Therapy With Biosimilars

Gregory Vidal, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Hematology/Oncology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and medical oncologist, West Cancer Center, explains how biosimilars could increase access to HER2-targeted therapy.

Vidal is a proponent of biosimilars because of their potential to increase access to life-saving therapy, he says. Currently, the cost of biologic agents is a barrier to some patients in the United States and overseas. Biosimilars could help bridge this gap in access, says Vidal. However, these agents would likely have the greatest impact in less developed countries where cost is prohibitive, adds Vidal.

In breast cancer, access to HER2-targeted therapy is critical. Biosimilars could increase competition and lower the cost of therapy, which would be a tremendous gain for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. As long as biosimilars demonstrate similar efficacy to the originator biologic—and all agents that have been approved to date have done so—these agents should be embraced by the medical community, concludes Vidal.