A retrospective study highlights increasing adoption of bevacizumab biosimilars for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), showing comparable safety and survival outcomes to the originator product. Researchers analyzed deidentified claims data from more than 6000 patients across the Carelon Research Healthcare Integrated Research Database between July 2017 and March 2024.

They noted similar patient demographics and outcomes between biosimilar and originator users. Among the 1307 patients with NSCLC, 53.6% were female and 83.6% identified as White non-Hispanic/Latino, with a median age of 67 years (interquartile range [IQR], 59-76). In the mCRC group of 4688 patients, 43.4% were female, 78.6% were White non-Hispanic/Latino, and the median age was 59 years (IQR, 50-67).

The study found a significant shift in prescribing patterns following the 2019 launch of bevacizumab biosimilars. In patients with NSCLC, biosimilar use rose from 0% in 2018 to 23.9% in 2023, while originator use declined from 14.9% to 11.9%. A similar trend was observed in the mCRC cohort, with biosimilar use increasing to 21.8% and originator use falling to 7.4%.

Although minor differences in adverse events were noted—such a higher incidence of hemorrhage with biosimilars in NSCLC (6.4% vs 4.7%; P < .001) and with originators in mCRC (9.9% vs 9.1%; P < .008)—overall safety profiles were largely comparable. Median overall survival was 25.8 months for patients with NSCLC and 29.5 months for those with mCRC.

“This real-world evidence supports the growing role of biosimilars in oncology care,” the authors concluded.

Reference

Lockhart C, Dixon R, Venkataraman M, et al. Real-world bevacizumab biosimilar uptake from 2018 to 2023 and outcomes among patients with non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer using commercial and Medicare Advantage claims in the United States. Presented at: AMCP 2025; March 31-April 3; Houston, TX; Abstract C2.