Factors Affecting Health Care Provider Knowledge and Acceptance of Biosimilar Medicines: A Systematic Review

Leonard, Emily; Wascovich, Michael; Oskouei, Sonia; Gurz, Paula; Carpenter, Delesha M.

doi:10.18553/jmcp.2019.25.1.102

Cited by 109 publications

(145 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In line with conclusions of other recent studies [44][45][46], we believe that education of policymakers, health-care professionals and patients on the opportunity cost of not using biosimilars would be essential in lower-income countries to improve patient access biological medicines.…”

Section: Expert Commentarysupporting

confidence: 88%

Influence of biosimilar infliximab launch on the utilization pattern of biological medicines: the case of Hungary

Harsányi

Csanádi

Márky³

et al. 2019

Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research

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Objectives: Utilization of multisource biological (off-patent originator and its biosimilar) medicines can improve the efficiency of resource allocation by 1) generating savings while maintaining health outcomes or 2) increasing the number of patients treated with more affordable treatments. This study evaluates the efficiency of the Hungarian biosimilar drug policy on the case of biosimilar infliximab. Methods: We analyzed the utilization of biologicals in all reimbursed indications of infliximab including initial therapy of new patients and switching patterns retrospectively based on patient-level payer's data between September 2012 and December 2016. Results: Despite the economic rationale, patent expiry did not manifest in increased utilization of multisource infliximab in an access-restricted environment: 1) Patients previously treated with original biologicals were switched mainly to other original biologicals instead of more affordable biosimilar alternatives. 2) Although some treatment-naive patients started on more affordable multisource infliximab with price competition, the majority of new patients started on other original biologicals with monopolistic price. Conclusion: Policy tools and measures should be developed to facilitate first-line use of multisource biologicals for treatment-naive patients and promoting the use of more affordable multisource biologicals in case of switching. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Section: Expert Commentarysupporting

confidence: 88%

Influence of biosimilar infliximab launch on the utilization pattern of biological medicines: the case of Hungary

Harsányi

Csanádi

Márky³

et al. 2019

Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research

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“…This study is the first to explore hospital pharmacist attitudes to biosimilars and to investigate practice related to their usage in pharmacotherapy regimens in Poland. The literature presents studies from the USA, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Malta, Hungary and UK as well as multiple European states [ 18 ]. The data obtained are especially valuable, since in recent years many originator biological medicines have lost their patent protection, allowing the introduction of biosimilars into therapy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives of Hospital Pharmacists Towards Biosimilar Medicines: A Survey of Polish Pharmacy Practice in General Hospitals

et al. 2019

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Introduction There has been a significant increase in the volume of biosimilar medicines recently due to the expiries of patent protections of biologic medicines. Biosimilars are considered new medicines, and their usage in therapy is often associated with uncertainty from the perspectives of physicians, pharmacists and patients. Objectives The purpose of this study was to identify hospital pharmacist opinions towards these new medicines and investigate their usage in practice. Methods A paper-based, self-administered questionnaire was distributed to Polish hospital pharmacists. Results Biosimilars were used in 77% of surveyed hospitals, whereas originator biologics were utilised within 90% of settings. The former medicines were found to consist of less than one-third of the entire course of biological pharmacotherapy used within Polish hospitals. A total of 88% of hospital pharmacists were concerned that the new drugs were not identical with the biologic versions, 48% with their immunogenicity and 44% with other pharmacokinetic properties. The majority of respondents (87%) stated that the most important advantage of biosimilars related to decreased costs. Furthermore, according to participants, pharmacist-led substitution is not appropriate. Conclusion Due to the numerous concerns relating to the usage of biosimilars, their introduction into patient therapy requires special attention from healthcare providers. While pharmacists involved in the distribution of biosimilars are conscious of their impact in decreasing costs of therapy, they do not feel comfortable in recommending their substitution without a physician's permission. There is a need for more precise legal regulations relating to biosimilars, improved communication between physicians and pharmacists, as well as educational initiatives to improve the safe and effective usage of biosimilars.

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“…Developers must minimize concerns about clinical outcomes and long-term performance of biosimilars through the generation, publication, and distribution of data appropriate for stakeholders, including physicians, patients, and payers, beyond that required for regulatory approval [180][181][182]. Educational activities and publication of data in respected medical journals can help to build trust and familiarity with biosimilars among physicians [183]. For example, an evidence-based approach helped to alleviate physicians' concerns about indication extrapolation and switching from reference infliximab to CT-P13 in the treatment of IBD [184,185], perhaps contributing to a change in ECCO's position on biosimilars [159].…”

Section: Developers' Perspective: Innovative Approaches To Bring Addimentioning

confidence: 99%

The Future of Biosimilars: Maximizing Benefits Across Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases

Kim

Alten

Avedano³

et al. 2020

Drugs

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Biologics have transformed the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Biosimilars-biologic medicines with no clinically meaningful differences in safety or efficacy from licensed originators-can stimulate market competition and have the potential to expand patient access to biologics within the parameters of treatment recommendations. However, maximizing the benefits of biosimilars requires cooperation between multiple stakeholders. Regulators and developers should collaborate to ensure biosimilars reach patients rapidly without compromising stringent quality, safety, or efficacy standards. Pharmacoeconomic evaluations and payer policies should be updated following biosimilar market entry, minimizing the risk of imposing nonmedical barriers to biologic treatment. In RA, disparities between treatment guidelines and national reimbursement criteria could be addressed to ensure more uniform patient access to biologics and enable rheumatologists to effectively implement treat-to-target strategies. In IBD, the cost-effectiveness of biologic treatment earlier in the disease course is likely to improve when biosimilars are incorporated into pharmacoeconomic analyses. Patient understanding of biosimilars is crucial for treatment success and avoiding nocebo effects. Full understanding of biosimilars by physicians and carefully considered communication strategies can help support patients initiating or switching to biosimilars. Developers must operate efficiently to be sustainable, without undermining product quality, the reliability of the supply chain, or pharmacovigilance. Developers should also facilitate information sharing to meet the needs of other stakeholders. Such collaboration will help to ensure a sustainable future for both the biosimilar market and healthcare systems, supporting the availability of effective treatments for patients.

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Factors Affecting Health Care Provider Knowledge and Acceptance of Biosimilar Medicines: A Systematic Review

Cited by 109 publications

References 29 publications

Influence of biosimilar infliximab launch on the utilization pattern of biological medicines: the case of Hungary

Influence of biosimilar infliximab launch on the utilization pattern of biological medicines: the case of Hungary

Perspectives of Hospital Pharmacists Towards Biosimilar Medicines: A Survey of Polish Pharmacy Practice in General Hospitals

The Future of Biosimilars: Maximizing Benefits Across Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases

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