Pfizer Launches Trastuzumab Biosimilar

Pfizer's trastuzumab biosimilar to Herceptin, Trazimera, launched Wednesday in the United States.

Trazimera is available for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing breast cancer and HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

The company said last month that Trazimera will have a wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) of $80.74 per 10 mg, a 22% discount to the WAC of Herceptin. In January, Pfizer launched its rituximab product, Ruxience (referencing Rituxan), and its biosimilar bevacizumab Zirabev (referencing Avastin).

With Trazimera in place, Herceptin now has 3 biosimilar competitiors. Besides Trazimera, the other 2 are the Mylan and Biocon biosimilar trastuzumab, Ogivri, and Amgen’s Kanjinti. Both launched last year.

This is the sixth biosimilar to launch within 120 days, making for 15 biosimilars launched in the U.S. The launch of Trazimera officially makes the Herceptin market one of the most competitive therapeutic markets in the U.S. (now having three biosimilars competing with one reference product) and the Herceptin market could have as many as five biosimilars competing in it by the end of 2020