What do oncologists think about biosimilars and their impact on various market factors? An interview with HemOnc revealed interesting insights to prevailing attitudes to biosimilars and health care.

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Cancer Physicians
Debate Biosimilars
Uptake

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• Uncertainty exists around the safety and
efficacy of biosimilars, given they are
similar, not identical to, their reference
products.
• Insufficient understanding of the science
behind this new class of drug also colors
the opinions of many doctors.
BIOSIMILARS
DEBATE
SAFETY EFFICACY
?
Key Grey Area Questions
• Can biosimilars be substituted for brand
drugs by pharmacists without a doctor
approval?
• Should the name of a biosimilar drug
reference the biologic or have non-
proprietary names?
Doctors interviewed by HemOnc Today provide
insights on biosimilars and healthcare
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Luis H. Camacho, MD, MPH
Medical Director
Center for Oncology and Blood Disorders,
Houston
“As with any other new products in the
market, the approved biosimilars will have
to gain the trust of their consumers in the
community and satisfy the financial needs
of large medical practices.”
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Louis M. Weiner, MD
Director of Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer
Center Georgetown University
The main difference between biosimilars and
originator compounds is the
“disproportionate amount of the cost and
time” involved in the clinical evaluation stage
of drug development for both originator
biologics and biosimilars. The reference drug
must prove its value in a particular disease
setting, while the biosimilar, must prove its
similarity to the original.
fight
illness
compare to
original
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85%
of prescribers prefer authority to specify whether a biologic should
not be substituted for a biosimilar without physician approval*
*The Alliance for Safe Biologic Medication conducted an internet-based survey of 376
U.S. oncologist and other prescribers.
**HemOnc Today conducted “an unscientific poll” last March of clinicians.
65% would feel comfortable prescribing a biosimilar**
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Despite approval of first U.S. biosimilar, it may
take time to build consensus in the clinical
community that biosimilar medicines offer a
safe, effective alternative to their reference
products.
“I can see these numbers changing as providers
become more familiar and comfortable with the
new products.”
Dr. Camacho suggests the results are an initial
reaction to the novelty of biosimilars and could
reflect concerns over potential immunogenicity.
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Maurie Markman, MD
President of Medicine and Science
Cancer Treatment Centers of America’s
Eastern Regional Medical Center & HemOnc
Today Editorial Board member
“There are a lot of physicians who are not sure
what everything means when it comes to
biosimilars. Concern has been raised in the
oncology community by the companies that
produced the branded drugs, informing
clinicians that these drugs are not the same.”
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Kimberly L. Blackwell, MD
Professor of Medicine & Asst. Professor of
Radiation Oncology
Department of Medicine, Duke University
Consultant for Sandoz Pharmaceuticals
For Dr. Blackwell, there will be an educational
curve around biosimilars.
“Greater understanding of the scientific
development of biosimilars compared with brand-
name drugs and generics may lead to a greater
acceptance of their efficacy among physicians.”
BiosimilarKnowledge
Time
Educational Curve
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“As someone who just recently entered the
world of biosimilars, I can say that the
biology and the chemistry behind this are
really tremendous. Most practicing clinicians
may not necessarily understand the rigor
that goes into making therapeutic proteins,
whether they be antibodies or granulocyte
colony–stimulating factor. It’s probably worth
taking 5 minutes to understand the policies
or the guidance on biosimilars.”
-Dr. Blackwell
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Scott Soefje, PharmD, MBA, BCOP
Director of Pharmacy, University Medical Center
Brackenridge
President of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy
Association’s
board of directors
“It is important to remember that generics were
not immediately accepted by all when they were
first introduced,”
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