Dr. Schmid on the Role of Biosimilars in Oncology

Peter Schmid, MD, PhD, lead at the Centre for Experimental Cancer Medicine, Barts Cancer Institute, discusses the role of biosimilars in oncology.

Biosimilars play an increasingly important role in the treatment of patients with cancer. There is a specific pathway that has been established by regulatory agencies that a biosimilar must go through in order to demonstrate bioequivalence. Despite initial hesitance regarding the similarity between a biologic and a biosimilar, provider comfort has grown since biosimilars for granulocyte-colony stimulating factor agents and trastuzumab (Herceptin) have become available.

In June 2019, the FDA approved ABP 980 (Kanjinti; trastuzumab-anns), a trastuzumab biosimilar, for the treatment of patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer as well as HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, marking the fifth approval by the agency for a trastuzumab biosimilar. Ultimately, the introduction of biosimilars have had a positive impact on a global scale, says Schmid. However, some challenges still need to be addressed, he concludes.