Practice

Asembia: Payers More Likely to Prefer Multiple Biosimilars for the Same Reference Product

May 4th 2023

By Skylar Jeremias

Article

In a panel at the 2023 Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit, speakers presented on the payer perspective regarding biosimilars, including that they feel comfortable preferring multiple biosimilars for the same reference product and are looking for interchangeability designations.

Despite Concerns Over Extrapolation, Bevacizumab Biosimilars Are Widely Used in mCRC

May 3rd 2023

By Deana Ferreri, PhD

Article

A review article investigating the use of bevacizumab biosimilars found that despite lingering concerns about their usage for extrapolated indications, bevacizumab biosimilars are regularly used in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) even though clinical tests only evaluate them in patients with lung cancer.

Study on Nonmedical Switching for Adalimumab Biosimilars Warns About Nocebo Effect

April 27th 2023

By Skylar Jeremias

Article

Nonmedical switches from Humira (reference adalimumab) to a biosimilar or an adalimumab biosimilar to another biosimilar resulted in nocebo effect responses, suggesting that more communication between providers and patients is needed, according to a real-world analysis.

Multiple Infliximab Biosimilar Switches Appear Safe, Effective for Patients With IBD

April 20th 2023

By Justina Petrullo

Article

A retrospective study in Scotland found that multiple successive changes from originator infliximab to biosimilars seem to be safe and effective in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irrespective of the number of switches.

Similar Overall Survival, Shorter Progression-Free Survival With Rituximab Biosimilar in Patients With DLBCL vs Originator

April 18th 2023

By Deana Ferreri, PhD

Article

Authors of a single-center, real-world study in Turkey found that patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who received a rituximab biosimilar had similar overall survival to patients who received the originator. However, progression-free survival was longer in the originator group.

Pipelines and Preparation: How the US Can Prepare for More RA Biosimilars

April 16th 2023

By Skylar Jeremias

Podcast

What can practices do to prepare for all the biosimilars to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) coming down the pipeline? And how can they ensure that the lower-than-anticipated adoption rates for infliximab biosimilars are not repeated? Robert Zutaut, RPh, from McKesson Provider Solutions, tackles all this and more on this episode of Not So Different.

Real-World Study Suggests Comparable Efficacy Between Biosimilar Razumab and Originator in PCV

April 15th 2023

By Deana Ferreri, PhD

Article

A real-world study in India compared the ranibizumab biosimilar Razumab to the originator (Lucentis) in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), finding that the biosimilar had comparable clinical outcomes.

Kathy Oubre Discusses PBM, Payer Challenges for Biosimilar Adoption

April 13th 2023

By Pearl Steinzor

Article

Kathy Oubre, MS, CEO of Pontchartrain Cancer Center, discusses the use of biosimilars and how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) as well as payers have challenged the biosimilar market.

Real-world Data Show Interchangeability of Rituximab Biosimilar

April 11th 2023

By Skylar Jeremias

Article

A retrospective real-world study assessing patient outcomes related to switching from reference rituximab (Rituxan) to a biosimilar version (Truxima) found that transitioning between the products was safe for patients and did not result in a change in adverse events.

Most Israeli Gastroenterologists Prefer Reference Products Over Biosimilars

April 10th 2023

By Lana Pine

Article

Although 75% of gastroenterologists believed that the efficacy of biosimilars and biologics were the same, most clinicians still preferred the brand name drug option.