Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP, Clinical Coordinator of Hematology/Oncology, The University of Arizona Cancer Center, and President-Elect of the Association of Community Cancer Centers, discusses the oncology community’s reaction to biosimilars for rituximab (Rituxan).

Rituximab has shown impressive activity in multiple hematologic malignancies, including lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Rituximab has also shown a curative benefit over the years, McBride states.

As the widespread use of biosimilars grows, the emergence of rituximab biosimilars has garnered interest in their curative benefit and cost-saving potential; however, the use of these biosimilars as frontline therapy is met with some reluctance in the oncology community, McBride explains.

In McBride’s opinion, the biosimilar is a valuable asset and has applications in the frontline setting as well as in the relapsed/refractory setting. These agents could be used by many infusion sites across the United States; however, it will ultimately be up to the payer to decide, he concludes.

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Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP, discusses the oncology community’s reaction to biosimilars for rituximab (Rituxan).
 

Dr. McBride on Biosimilar Rituximab

Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP, Clinical Coordinator of Hematology/Oncology, The University of Arizona Cancer Center, and President-Elect of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), discusses the potential impact of bevacizumab (Avastin) biosimilars in oncology.

The introduction of bevacizumab biosimilars have the potential to change the market. With current projections, the biosimilar would not be available to market until 2020, says McBride. In the interim, several other bevacizumab biosimilars may be introduced into the market; if this happens, competition could drive price down even further.

The expectation is that the cost of the drug will be reduced by anywhere from 25% to 50%. A cost reduction of that scale could positively impact Oncology Care Model practice sites by decreasing cost and increasing access, which may reverberate to the overall United States health system. However, it is hard to say for sure, concludes McBride.

Dr. McBride on the Potential Impact of Bevacizumab Biosimilars in Oncology

Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP, Clinical Coordinator of Hematology/Oncology, The University of Arizona Cancer Center, and President-Elect of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC), discusses financial toxicities for patients with cancer.

Over the last decade, there has been a change in cost for patients with cancer. For example, the cost of chemotherapy has quadrupled, and continues to increase. Financial toxicity and bankruptcy have been talked about with patients directly, which McBride says is causing a lot of issues. The patient alone must then decide between housing costs and chemotherapy, as well as caretaker payment, work, and insurance. This overall increase in cost has not only affected the patient, but institutions and the US healthcare system, McBride explains.

This discussion of financial toxicity has brought about a new role in the treatment course for a patient. This role is addressing chemotherapy, patient support, and evaluating foundational support and grant systems. McBride says that people in this role are called financial advocates, and they are responsible for developing resources for the patient. Historically, there has been a lack of guidelines in this area, but ACCC has developed the financial advocate guidelines to define the role in the health system.  

Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP, Clinical Coordinator of Hematology/Oncology, The University of Arizona Cancer Center, and President-Elect of the Association of Community Cancer Centers.
 

Ali McBride, PharmD, MS, BCOP

Articles

Dr. McBride on Biosimilar Rituximab

Dr. McBride on the Potential Impact of Bevacizumab Biosimilars in Oncology

Dr. McBride Discusses Financial Toxicity in Oncology