- Bone Health
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Respiratory
- Dermatology
- Diabetes
- Gastroenterology
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Rare Disease
- Rheumatology
Dr Sonia Oskouei Predicts How Bevacizumab Use Will Evolve in Ophthalmology
The use of bevacizumab products for ophthalmic conditions will continue to evolve as the market grows. However, off-label usage will likely be the norm, according to Sonia T. Oskouei, PharmD, BCMAS, DPLA, vice president of biosimilars at Cardinal Health, at Asembia’s Specialty Pharmacy Summit.
The use of bevacizumab products for ophthalmic conditions will continue to evolve as the market grows. However, off-label usage will likely be the norm, according to Sonia T. Oskouei, PharmD, BCMAS, DPLA, vice president of biosimilars at Cardinal Health, at Asembia’s Specialty Pharmacy Summit.
Transcript
Do you think that the potential for more bevacizumab biosimilars coupled with the recent approval of Alymsys will encourage more companies to seek indication expansions for ophthalmic conditions?
Oskouei: The role of bevacizumab in ophthalmology use is likely to continue to evolve. So, today you have off-label Avastin [reference bevacizumab] being used as one of the most common anti-VEGF [vascular endothelial growth factor] treatment options for retina conditions. However, we now have Avastin or bevacizumab biosimilars, but these are primarily being used in oncology indications. But the reason why this is going to continue to evolve is you also have Outlook Therapeutics with a bevacizumab candidate [Lytenava; ONS-5010; bevacizumab-vikg] that is seeking on-label indication for ophthalmology use.
So, these dynamics are going to shift the types of use for the product and the treatment plan when evaluating treatment options for retina conditions. But not only do you have the bevacizumab scenario and dynamics going on, you also have increasing market entrance of additional innovative treatment options for ophthalmology. And I really believe these past couple years and a couple of years moving forward is a very innovative time period for ophthalmology treatment options. We have new treatment options, from port delivery systems to novel mechanisms of actions, coming into market and competing both with originator biologics and biosimilars.
So, I don't particularly foresee that bevacizumab biosimilars are going to start competing or seeking additional indications in ophthalmology, especially because the originator product does not have it as an on-label indication. However, I think the use of the product is going to continue to evolve as these market dynamics evolve.
Addressing Patent Abuse, Reimbursement Models Key to Sustainable Biosimilar Market
April 25th 2025Sonia T. Oskouei, PharmD, emphasized strategies to streamline regulations and evolve to overcome barriers and expand the availability of cost-effective biosimilar treatments across more therapeutic areas.
How AI Can Help Address Cost-Related Nonadherence to Biologic, Biosimilar Treatment
March 9th 2025Despite saving billions, biosimilars still account for only a small share of the biologics market—what's standing in the way of broader adoption and how can artificial intelligence (AI) help change that?
Decade of Biosimilars Yields $36 Billion in Savings and Strengthens Supply Chain
April 24th 2025Dracey Poore, MS, director of biosimilars and emerging therapies at Cardinal Health, highlighted that biosimilars saved $36 billion over the last decade by improving patient access and the supply chain, but continued education and a robust pipeline are crucial for future growth.
Will the FTC Be More PBM-Friendly Under a Second Trump Administration?
February 23rd 2025On this episode of Not So Different, we explore the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) second interim report on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) with Joe Wisniewski from Turquoise Health, discussing key issues like preferential reimbursement, drug pricing transparency, biosimilars, shifting regulations, and how a second Trump administration could reshape PBM practices.
BioRationality: EMA Accepts Waiver of Clinical Efficacy Testing of Biosimilars
April 21st 2025Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, shares his latest citizen's petition to the FDA, calling on the agency to waive clinical efficacy testing in response to the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) efforts towards the same goal.
