The American Journal of Managed Care, a sister site of The Center for Biosimilars, looked back at some of the most popular biosimilars content of 2022 to be published on AJMC.com.
Both 2020 and 2021 were slow years for biosimilar approvals in the United States, but there were 7 total approved as of mid-December 2022. As more biosimilars come to market in the United States, there is interest in understanding how to implement biosimilars in practice and the cost savings that can be realized from greater use of biosimilars.
Here are the top 5 most popular biosimilars articles from 2022.
5. Patient Experiences, Oncologist Perceptions Differ for Trastuzumab Biosimilar Switch
Switching from a reference product to a biosimilar commonly happens for nonmedical reasons. Biosimilars are less expensive than the reference biologic and insurers or health care systems may lead the decision for this nonmedical switching.
However, a set of surveys revealed that patients and oncologists need improved communication regarding switching to trastuzumab biosimilars, and 41% of patients reported receiving no prior notification ahead of the switch. None of the oncologists surveyed reported that the decision to switch to a biosimilar was initiated by them.
4. High-Concentration Version of Adalimumab Biosimilar Will Be Available in 2023
While the FDA had approved multiple adalimumab biosimilars prior, this represented the first high-concentration citrate-free formulation of an adalimumab biosimilar approved by the FDA. Both the low- and high-concentration versions of Samsung Bioepis’ adalimumab biosimilar, Hadlima, will launch July 2023.
The citrate-free, high-concentration version reduces site injection pain. Currently, the high-concentration version of the reference product has the most market share.
3. Biosimilars Available for 3 Drugs Costing More Through Hospitals, Physicians
A report from AHIP analyzed the cost of 10 drugs and found those administered in a hospital or physician’s office can cost up to twice as much as the same drugs dispensed in specialty pharmacies.
Three of the drugs evaluated have multiple biosimilars available: Herceptin with 5 biosimilars available; Remicade with 4 biosimilars approved and 3 on the market; and Rituxan with 3 biosimilars available.
2. FDA Approves Third Bevacizumab Biosimilar
In April 2022, the FDA approved Alymsys, a bevacizumab biosimilar from Amneal Pharmaceuticals and mAbxience. It was the third biosimilar referencing Avastin to be approved in the United States. Alymsys was also the second biosimilar from Amneal approved in 2022.
Amneal’s first biosimilar approved of 2022 was Releuko, a filgrastim biosimilar. The company also had a pegfilgrastim biosimilar, Fylnetra, that was approved in June 2022.
1. Dr Timothy Murphy Discusses Successfully Implementing Biosimilars Into Community Cancer Practice
Timothy Murphy, MD, medical oncologist/hematologist with Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers (RMCC) discussed how his practice is handling the growing number of biosimilars. Educating providers and the pharmacy team was crucial for the success RMCC had had.
“We had to convince our providers that switching the drugs that they have written for with a biosimilar was an OK thing to do, that these medications are just as efficacious as the name brand drugs that they may have actually written for it,” he said.
Budget Impact Analysis of Biosimilar Natalizumab in the US
Projected savings from biosimilar natalizumab were $452,611 over 3 years, driven by decreased drug acquisition costs and a utilization shift from reference to biosimilar natalizumab.
Biosimilars in America: Overcoming Barriers and Maximizing Impact
July 21st 2024Join us as we explore the complexities of the US biosimilars market, discussing legislative influences, payer and provider adoption factors, and strategies to overcome industry challenges with expert insights from Kyle Noonan, PharmD, MS, value & access strategy manager at Cencora.
Eye on Pharma: BI Cyltezo Partnership; Europe Ustekinumab Launch; Mexico Biosimilar Approval
July 24th 2024Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) partners with GoodRx to offer its unbranded adalimumab biosimilar to patients at an exclusive low price; a new ustekinumab biosimilar launches in Europe; and Mexican officials approve a bevacizumab biosimilar.
Biosimilars Oncology Roundup for June 2024—Podcast Edition
July 7th 2024On this episode of Not So Different, we review biosimilar news coming out of June, with clinical trial results from conferences and a study showcasing how to overcome economic and noneconomic barriers to oncology biosimilars.
Real-World Study: No Increase in Health Resource Costs After Infliximab Biosimilar Introduction
July 20th 2024Although biosimilars reduce drug purchasing costs for hospitals, it’s unclear whether those savings might be offset by increased health resource utilization following a non-medical switching initiative.