AAO Reacts to Ranibizumab Biosimilar Approval

The Center for Biosimilars® spoke with George Williams, MD, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), about the FDA’s recent approval of Byooviz (ranibizumab), the first biosimilar specifically approved for treatment of eye diseases.

Tony Hagen, senior editor for The Center for Biosimilars®, speaks with George Williams, MD, clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), about the recent FDA approval of Byooviz (ranibizumab), a drug developed by Samsung Bioepis and slated for commercialization by Biogen. Byooviz references Lucentis.

Williams, who is also a past president of the AAO, discusses the value of a biosimilar ranibizumab for patients with eye conditions and the interest among eye disease specialists in having an additional option that improves treatment access, quality, and affordability.

He also addresses the available clinical evidence on this biosimilar and the anticipated delay before launch. Owing to a licensing agreement with the originator company, Genentech, Byooviz is unlikely to come to market before June 2022.