Open AccessWhat do oncologists need to know about biosimilar products?
Author(s) -
Leung Linda K. S.,
Mok Kevin,
Liu Calvin,
Chan Stephen L.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
cancer communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.119
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2523-3548
DOI - 10.1186/s40880-016-0151-x
Subject(s) - biosimilar , medicine , comparability , trastuzumab , risk analysis (engineering) , biological drugs , drug approval , intensive care medicine , pharmacology , drug , cancer , rheumatoid arthritis , immunology , mathematics , combinatorics , breast cancer
Many biologic products have improved the outcomes of cancer patients, but the costs can substantially burden healthcare systems. Biosimilar products can potentially reduce drug costs and increase patient access to beneficial treatments. Approval of a biosimilar product relies on the demonstration of “comparability” or “no clinically meaningful differences” as compared to its reference biologic product. Biosimilar products for erythropoietin, granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor, trastuzumab, and rituximab are already available, and the regulatory processes in various countries are constantly evolving. It is important that oncologists be familiar with the potential issues surrounding the clinical use of biosimilar products. In this review article, we provide background information about biosimilar products and their regulatory approval processes, followed by a discussion of individual biosimilar drugs.