May 2nd 2024
Data from a Cencora study showed some misalignment in payer coverage of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) biosimilars, highlighting that while filgrastim biosimilars are often favored over the originator, reference pegfilgrastim still dominates over its biosimilars.
Phase 1 Data Show Sandoz's Proposed Pegfilgrastim Biosimilar Matches Neulasta's Profile
December 9th 2017Results from a phase 1 clinical trial show that Sandoz’s proposed pegfilgrastim biosimilar (LA-EP2006) matched the reference biologic, Amgen’s Neulasta, in terms of safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and immunogenicity in healthy subjects.
High Cost Sharing Associated With Lower Rates of Cancer Treatment Initiation, Study Finds
December 8th 2017Advances in research have led to increased therapeutic options for patients with cancer, but these drugs come at a substantial cost; high out-of-pocket costs pose a significant barrier to treatment initiation for patients with cancer, according to a new, retrospective claims-based study.
Savings From Biosimilar Filgrastim Can Expand Access to High-Cost Drugs
December 5th 2017At the American Society of Hematology’s 59th Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, Sanjeeev Balu, PhD, will present results of a study that examines expanded access to the drug obinutuzumab (Gazyva) made possible on a budget-neutral basis through savings obtained from using biosimilar filgrastim-sndz (Zarxio).
Argentine-Approved Biosimilar Rituximab Has Similar Safety Profile to Its Reference
December 5th 2017Since Novex’s commercial launch, the first national pharmacovigilance plan for a biosimilar monoclonal antibody has been implemented, and data from this post-marketing surveillance show that, in terms of tolerability, this biosimilar has a similar safety profile to that of the reference product.
New Data Support the Use of Tbo-Filgrastim in Pediatric Patients
December 5th 2017On Sunday, December 10, at the American Society of Hematology’s 59th Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, Noah Federman, MD, will present research from a phase 2 study on the use of subcutaneous tbo-filgrastim (Granix) in pediatric patients with solid tumors who are undergoing chemotherapy.
Financial Incentives May Lead to Overuse of Rituximab Maintenance
December 4th 2017On Saturday, December 9, at the American Society of Hematology’s 59th Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, Scott Huntington, MD, MPH, will present his research team’s findings that the receipt of lymphoma care in the community-based setting is associated with guideline-discordant use of rituximab.
Biocad to Manufacture Biosimilars in Morocco
December 2nd 2017Russian biosimilar developer Biocad has announced that it will begin manufacturing its rituximab and bevacizumab biosimilars in Morocco. The 2 drugs, manufactured in partnership with Sothema Labs, will be sold in numerous markets in North Africa, including Morocco, Senegal, Gabon, and Cote d’Ivoire.
COA Holds Emergency Hill Day to Warn Congress on Medicare Sequester
December 2nd 2017Yesterday, community oncology leaders flooded the Hill to meet with Congress and the administration to warn them of the impact the Medicare sequester’s increased cuts and extension will have on cancer care nationwide.
Will Biosimilar Trastuzumab Change Clinical Practice?
November 27th 2017Trastuzumab has been used to manage both early and metastatic HER2-postive breast cancer and has significantly improved the survival of these patients and become the standard of care, according to Arlene Chan, MB BS, FRACP, MMed, writing in Chinese Clinical Oncology.
Genentech Releases New Data on Reference Bevacizumab and Atezolizumab Plus Chemotherapy
November 25th 2017A new study, the phase 3 IMpower150, demonstrated Genentech’s atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and innovator bevacizumab (Avastin) plus paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy significantly reduced the risk of disease worsening or death in the treatment of advanced lung cancer.
Neutrophils, G-CSF, and Breast Cancer Metastasis: A Reason for Caution?
November 17th 2017Australian researchers Kellie A. Mouchemore, PhD, and colleagues urge caution in the use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in neutrophil recovery following chemotherapy for breast cancer because there is increasing evidence that G-CSF can promote metastasis.
Biosimilar Bevacizumab ABP 215 Gains Positive CHMP Opinion
November 11th 2017Drug makers Amgen and Allergan announced on Friday that the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion on ABP 215, the companies’ bevacizumab biosimilar. CHMP recommended the biosimilar for approval for the treatment of multiple cancer indications.
FDA Agrees to Review sBLA for Reference Bevacizumab
November 2nd 2017The FDA has accepted Genentech’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for its innovator bevacizumab (Avastin) in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy, followed by Avastin alone, for the front-line treatment of women with advanced epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.
Consensus Recommendations on Pegfilgrastim for Prophylaxis of Febrile Neutropenia
October 23rd 2017A paper by Matti Aapro, MD, recently published in Supportive Cancer Care, outlined, for the first time, consensus recommendations on using pegfilgrastim in particular patients and therapeutic scenarios.
Biosimilars and the Nocebo Effect
October 18th 2017Switching patients from originator biologics to biosimilars is associated with the potential for a “nocebo” effect, a phenomenon that occurs when a patient’s negative expectation causes a treatment to have a more negative effect than it otherwise would—essentially, the opposite of the placebo effect.
Study: Injectable Anticancer Drugs Increase in Cost Regardless of Competition
October 17th 2017A study newly published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that, regardless of competition or additional approved indications, injectable anticancer drugs are subject to steady increases in price after launch.