The first anticancer biosimilars have reached the U.S. market, Amgen and Allergan announced.
Both bevacizumab-awwb (Mvasi), a biosimilar to bevacizumab (Avastin), and trastuzumab-anns (Kanjinti), a biosimilar to trastuzumab (Herceptin) are now available. The list price for each drug will be 15% less than the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for the branded products.
Three other trastuzumab biosimilars in addition to the -anns version have won FDA approval — the first was almost 2 years ago — and Mvasi also was initially approved in 2017. Getting those agents into pharmacies has evidently been a slow process, as none had begun shipping until Friday’s announcement from Amgen and Allergan. Kanjinti, on the other hand, only won FDA approval last month.
Bevacizumab-awwb has FDA approval for five oncology-related indications: in combination with chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer, nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer, and persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer; recurrent glioblastoma; and with interferon-alfa for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Trastuzumab-anns has approval for treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer in the adjuvant and metastatic settings and for HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
According to the company statement, bevacizumab-awwb will have a WAC of $677.40 per 100 mg and $2,709.60 per 400 mg single-dose vial. The WAC for trastuzumab-anns will be $3,697.26 per 420-mg multidose vial. Currently, bevacizumab-awwb has an average selling price (ASP) 12% lower than that of Avastin and trastuzumab-anns has an ASP 13% less than that of Herceptin.
Source: MedicalNewsToday.com
