Ivo Abraham, PhD

Ivo Abraham is chief scientist of Matrix45 and professor of pharmacy, medicine, and clinical translational sciences at the University of Arizona, where he is associated with the Center for Health Outcomes and PharmacoEconomic Research. He has worked in biologic drugs since the late 1990s and in biosimilars since their introduction in the European marketplace – collaborating closely with Karen MacDonald, who is also his wife. On both the private and academic sides, his group published the first economic evaluations of biosimilars, a line of studies that continues to date. Building on large international observational studies on biological therapies that the Abraham-MacDonald tandem implemented in the late 1990s and early 2000s, they worked with Sandoz on the MONITOR-GCSF and MONITOR-CKD-5 studies that proved to be instrumental in the breakthrough of biosimilars in Europe. As biosimilars entered the US market, Matrix45 added studies in support of biosimilar adoption in the United States. More recently, Matrix45 has ventured into biosimilars in emerging markets, including low- and middle-income countries. He may be reached at cntr4biosimilars@matrix45.com.

Dr Ivo Abraham Column: Not All Quiet on the Biologics Front—Biosimilars, Biobetters, and Bioparallels

October 30, 2023

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In his comeback column, Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a professor at the University of Arizona, explores the world of biobetters and the complicated dynamics surrounding the FDA approval of Zymfentra, the first subcutaneous infliximab.

Dr Ivo Abraham Column: The 2022 WHO Biosimilar Guidelines—Loosening the Reins or Changing the Track? Part 2

March 07, 2023

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In part 2 of this 2-part series, Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a professor at the University of Arizona, continued to examine guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and how they view interchangeability and animal study requirements.

Dr Ivo Abraham Column: The 2022 WHO Biosimilar Guidelines—Loosening the Reins or Changing the Track? Part 1

February 28, 2023

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Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a professor at the University of Arizona, details how biosimilar guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) have changed over time and whether those changes are beneficial for biosimilars in part 1 of this 2-part series.

Dr Ivo Abraham Column: 1 Billion People Can Access Biosimilars; What About the Other 7 Billion?

November 30, 2022

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Now that the world population has reached 8 billion, Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a professor at the University of Arizona, took a look at how high-income countries can increase accessibility to livesaving medicines to the 7 billion people who have limited access to biosimilars.

Dr Ivo Abraham Column: Biosimilars and the Commoditization of Treatments

October 26, 2022

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Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a professor at the University of Arizona, explores whether biosimilars should be considered a commodity and if the commodification of medications is sustainable as the market continues to expand.

Dr Ivo Abraham Column: When More May Yield Less—Price Erosion of Biosimilars Following US Market Entry

September 26, 2022

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Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a professor at the University of Arizona, chronicles how drug prices as a result of biosimilar competition has evolved over time and what factors may contribute the most to price erosion.

Dr Ivo Abraham Column: It's What We Do With the Savings—Economics and Equity

August 30, 2022

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Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a professor at the University of Arizona, describes the pharmacoeconomics of biosimilars and the savings potential for practices and payers if they prioritize greater biosimilar adoption.

Contributor: Good Bait and Fair Switch—Biosimilar Interchangeability, Substitution, and Choice

July 11, 2022

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Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a member of The Center for Biosimilars® Advisory Board, explains the difference between biosimilar interchangeability and substitution and weighs in on whether switching studies are necessary.

Contributor: To Try or Not to Try? That’s Not the Question—Phase 3 Trials of Biosimilars and Beyond

June 15, 2022

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Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a member of The Center for Biosimilars® Advisory Board, explores the complicated world of phase 3 trials for biosimilars to answer the question of whether they are truly needed for establishing biosimilar safety and efficacy.

Contributor: The Enemy of Your Enemy Should Be Your Friend – Why Biosimilars Companies Should Collaborate

May 09, 2022

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Biosimilar manufacturers should consider working together to overcome some of the barriers that prevent biosimilars from entering the market and obtaining market share, according to Ivo Abraham, PhD, chief scientist of Matrix45 and a member of The Center for Biosimilars® Advisory Board.