An Indian survey with oncologists for the use of biosimilar Trastuzumab in clinical practice

26^th World Cancer and Oncodiagnostics Conference

November 27-28, 2017 Dubai, UAE

Dilip Pawar, Ashish Bajaj and Sameer Guliani

Biocon Limited, India

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Cancer Sci Ther

Abstract :

Purpose: Biosimilars are available for trastuzumab globally including India. This survey was conducted across India to understand oncology practices for the use of trastuzumab innovator and biosimilars in treatment of early breast cancer (EBC) and metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Methodology: These 20 items self-administered questionnaire was completed by 78 oncologists across India. It included the prescription trends for trastuzumab innovator and biosimilars in treatment of EBC and MBC. Results: The oncologists reported that amongst all breast cancer patients, HER2+ cases comprised about 29.09% for EBC and 39.69% for MBC in their practice. In HER2+ cases, 58.94% patients of EBC and 52.90% of MBC are prescribed trastuzumab. Of all trastuzumab prescriptions, 32.49% of EBC and 31.34% of MBC cases are prescribed innovator brand, whereas 64.69% of EBC and 65.87% cases of MBC are prescribed biosimilar. In EBC 97.1% patients on trastuzumab completed 11-20 cycles as compared to only 40.7% MBC cases. Of all patients prescribed trastuzumab 68.3% patients completed 1-year treatment period and only 31.7% patients did not. Switchover to a biosimilar from innovator brand is 29.5% for EBC and 38.3% for MBC. The switchover from one biosimilar to other biosimilar was 19.0% in EBC and 16.4% in MBC. Cost of therapy was reported by many oncologists (64.0%) as the major reason for switchover to biosimilar. There were no differences observed in efficacy and adverse effects when switchover was done to biosimilars. Conclusion: Biosimilars for trastuzumab can be useful cost-effective substitutes for innovator brands for treatment of HER2+ breast cancer.

Biography :

Dilip Pawar has received his MBBS from Grant Medical College and MD from LTM Medical College, Mumbai University, India. He has completed PhD, Fellowship in Clinical Pharmacology from American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and has also done MBA. He heads the Medical Affairs Division and has published around 150 scientific papers. He is also an Associate Editor on Indian Medical Gazette.