Barriers to the Access of Bevacizumab in Patients with Solid Tumors and the Potential Impact of Biosimilars: A Physician Survey

• Published in: Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2017-01, Vol.10 (1), p.19
• Main Authors: Monk, Bradley J, Lammers, Philip E, Cartwright, Thomas, Jacobs, Ira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer; Immunotherapy; Metastasis; Monoclonal antibodies; Pharmaceutical industry; Targeted cancer therapy; Tumors
• ISSN: 1424-8247; 1424-8247
• DOI: 10.3390/ph10010019

Access to bevacizumab, an important component of oncology treatment regimens, may be limited. This survey of oncologists in the US ( = 150), Europe ( = 230), and emerging markets (EM: Brazil, Mexico, and Turkey; = 130) examined use of and barriers to accessing bevacizumab as treatment of advanced solid tumors. We also assessed the likelihood that physicians would prescribe a bevacizumab biosimilar, if available. Bevacizumab was frequently used as early-line therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer, metastatic non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer, and metastatic ovarian cancer (all markets), and as a second-line therapy in glioblastoma multiforme (US, EM). A greater percentage of EM-based physicians cited access-related issues as a barrier to prescribing bevacizumab versus US and EU physicians. Lack of reimbursement and high out-of-pocket costs were cited as predominant barriers to prescribing and common reasons for reducing the number of planned cycles. Overall, ~50% of physicians reported they "definitely" or "probably" would prescribe a bevacizumab biosimilar, if available. Efficacy and safety data in specific tumor types and lower cost were factors cited that would increase likelihood to prescribe a bevacizumab biosimilar. A lower cost bevacizumab biosimilar could address the unmet needs of patients and physicians worldwide, and may have the greatest impact on patient outcomes in EM.