A new drug has been released by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) for the treatment of people diagnosed with cancer , according to an alert issued.
Registered under the name Mvasi , the medicine has the active ingredient bevacizumab and is classified as biosimilar, that is, highly similar to the reference medicine.
This means that the drug was developed from the moment the biological product patent expired, which represents an opportunity for new companies to develop similar versions.
Because it is a more elaborate process and with several tests, the production of biosimilar remedies – like Mvasi – ends up being more expensive than synthetic ones. Therefore, there are few approved biosimilars.
In this testing phase, the medicine was compared with Avastin , another medicine that has the same active ingredient.
This procedure is known by health authorities as comparability tests, which are used to verify the performance of medicines and to help in the decision of whether or not to be approved by the agency.
With the release, according to Anvisa, the drug should be indicated for the treatment of patients with different types of cancer , such as colorectal, lung, breast, kidney, uterus and ovary.
The drug should also only be used following a medical prescription, as it depends on a previous clinical evaluation.
The inclusion and approval of the drug is also important for doctors, who can prescribe it more safely for patients.
What are biological remedies?
Biological medicines are called that because they are extracted from living beings through technological processes. They are usually proteins or molecules with a larger size than those produced in the laboratory (synthetic).
In fact, what differentiates a biological medicine from a synthetic one is the way it is produced. For example, synthetics are manufactured through chemical manipulation, a process done in the laboratory.
Biologicals, on the other hand, are made from living cells, present in plants and various microorganisms.
These drugs considered innovative have an important role in the health area, favoring the quality of life of patients and the work of professionals in the area.
