Bevacizumab Biosimilars Offer Promise for CRC Treatment, Wound Healing, and Cost Savings

A review highlighted bevacizumab biosimilars as a promising treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) by targeting wound healing complications in anorectal medicine, showing that bevacizumab biosimilars had similar safety and efficacy compared with the reference product (Avastin).

The review, published in International Wound Journal, also found that bevacizumab biosimilars could lead to potential cost savings and enhanced quality of care for patients.

“Given the high cost of cancer treatment, the potential cost savings attributable to biosimilars, which do not compromise treatment efficacy, are substantial. In addition to ensuring the financial viability of health care systems, this may also make treatments accessible to a larger patient population,” wrote the authors.

Effective wound healing is often hindered by CRC and its treatments, posing a significant concern in managing the condition. Complications during wound healing can significantly prolong recovery and may require additional medical interventions, particularly impactful in anatomical medicine where surgeries are common and diligent wound care is crucial for patient recovery and overall well-being.

This present study was conducted to address the increasing global concern of CRC, its multifaceted origins, and the challenges associated with its treatment and early detection, particularly focusing on the potential of a bevacizumab biosimilar to improve patient outcomes by targeting wound healing complications.

Researchers searched 4 databases for randomized controlled trials and observational studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab biosimilars in patients with CRC. Of the 918 research articles originally detected, 9 studies were included in the analysis.

Studies consistently showed that experimental groups (patients received a biosimilar) outperformed control groups (patients received the originator), indicating the effectiveness of the interventions under investigation. Differences in mean durations and percentages between control and experimental groups varied across studies, with some demonstrating clear distinctions while others showed more modest contrasts.

In one study the biosimilar group had an average success rate of 87.6% compared with the reference product group's 71.4%, representing a notable difference of 16.2 percentage points. Similarly, another study reported a rise in the biosimilar group, which had a mean success rate of 92.6% compared with the reference product group's mean of 78.6%. However, another study revealed a smaller mean difference of 6.0% between the biosimilar and originator groups.

Regarding mean durations, some studies found significantly longer durations in the biosimilar group compared with the originator group, with differences ranging from 5.5 months to almost insignificant differences. Additionally, mean percentage differences varied substantially across studies, with some showing pronounced contrasts and others demonstrating more modest differences.

The authors noted that, “Individual results may vary, despite the fact that biosimilars generally maintain a comparable profile to the originator biologic, as evidenced by the variation in results across studies, particularly in terms of percentage disparities in therapeutic efficacy and duration. Outcomes can be affected by study design, patient demographics, CRC staging, and concurrent treatments.”

Reference

Li T, Mei Z, Shi L, et al. Evaluation of bevacizumab biosimilar on wound healing complications in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing endoscopic mucosal resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis in anorectal medicine. Int Wound J. 2024;21(1):e14638. doi:10.1111/iwj.14638