Sandra Cuellar, PharmD, BCOP, oncology resident director, clinical pharmacist, and team leader, Ambulatory Pharmacy Services, clinical assistant professor, Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, discusses challenges with ​data extrapolation for biosimilars. 

A knowledge gap​ remains among the health care community regarding the approval process for biosimilars and the differences compared with that of biologics, says Cuellar. Moreover, the oncology field is still trying to adapt to this paradigm shift. 

Biologics are generally studied in individual tumor types, whereas data for biosimilars can be extrapolated to other tumor types. This has caused some hesitancy in the field of oncology, Cuellar says.

​Moreover, due to the complexity of the molecules, many have questioned the overall utility of biosimilars, Cuellar concludes.

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Sandra Cuellar, PharmD, BCOP, discusses challenges with ​data extrapolation for biosimilars. 

Dr. Cuellar on Concerns With Extrapolating Data for Biosimilars 

Sandra Cuellar, PharmD, BCOP, oncology resident director, clinical pharmacist, and team leader, Ambulatory Pharmacy Services, clinical assistant professor, Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois, discusses the pharmacoeconomic benefits of biosimilars.

Biosimilars have the potential to reduce the cost of therapy while maintaining the quality, efficacy, and safety thereof for patients, explains Cuellar.

Over the past decade, the price of biologics has increased by about 80% due to the lack of competition in the market, says Cuellar.

In 2009, Congress passed the Pathway for Biosimilars Act, allowing biosimilars to enter the market, explains Cuellar.

As more biosimilars receive regulatory approval, the price of biologics is expected to drop, providing patients with additional options at reduced cost, concludes Cuellar.

Sandra Cuellar, PharmD, BCOP, discusses the pharmacoeconomic benefits of biosimilars.

Sandra Cuellar, PharmD, BCOP

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Dr. Cuellar on Concerns With Extrapolating Data for Biosimilars

Dr. Cuellar on the Pharmacoeconomic Benefits of Biosimilars