A Biosimilar Bevacizumab for Treating Several Types of Cancer
On November 23, 2017, Biocon India's premier Biopharmaceuticals Company announced that it has launched KRABEVAR, a biosimilar Bevacizumab for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and other types of lung, kidney, cervical, ovarian and brain cancers, in India6.
KRABEVAR, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) developed by Biocon, will help expand access to a world-class, high quality biosimilar Bevacizumab for cancer patients in India. It is the world´s first and only Bevacizumab with a unique ´QualCheck ´ mechanism, which ensures that patients get a quality-ascertained product right up to infusion.
Bevacizumab is indicated as a first-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), and is accepted as a standard treatment option in combination with chemotherapy for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSLC), metastatic renal cell carcinoma or recurrent ovarian cancer.
KRABEVAR is the second key oncologic biosimilar product, from Biocon´s global biosimilars portfolio to be launched in India. It is being offered to patients at an MRP of Rs 24,000 for 100 mg / 4 ml vials and Rs 39,990 for 400 mg / 16 ml vials, making it a high quality affordable alternative to the innovator brand. In comparison, the Innovator brand for Bevacizumab marketed as AvastinR by Roche India Private Limited costs over Rs 10, 7065 for 400mg / 16ml vial.
Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) targeting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor- A (VEGF-A), a cell protein that induces growth of blood vessels that feed tumors. By blocking this protein, Bevacizumab cuts the supply of food and oxygen to the tumor, thus starving it. Bevacizumab is prescribed in the treatment of several cancers including metastatic colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, recurrent glioblastoma, cervical cancer and renal cancer. Bevacizumab was first approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), in February 20047. It also features in the World Health Organization's (WHO) list of essential medicines8. The WHO list of essential medicines contains the medications considered to be most effective and safe to meet the most important needs in a health system. The list is frequently used by countries to help develop their own local lists of essential medicine.
Conclusion:
Approval and launch of a Bevacizumab biosimilar in India would provide an affordable therapy option for patients of various types of cancer.
Footnotes
6 https://www.biocon.com/biocon_press_releases_231117.asp
7 https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=125085
8 http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/essentialmedicines/EML_2015_FINAL_amended_NOV2015.pdf?ua=1
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