Ireland’s Minister for Health has published a consultation paper on overhauling the nation’s approach to biosimilar medicines. The paper indicates that the Irish government is developing a National Biosimilar Medicines Policy “to promote the rational use of biosimilar medicines and to create a sustainable environment for biological medicines in Ireland.”
Ireland’s Minister for Health has published a consultation paper on overhauling the nation’s approach to biosimilar medicines. The paper indicates that the Irish government is developing a National Biosimilar Medicines Policy “to promote the rational use of biosimilar medicines and to create a sustainable environment for biological medicines in Ireland.”
The consultation paper highlights the fact that only 11 biosimilars are currently reimbursable by the state’s healthcare system, while over €200 million (approximately $235 million) is spent each year on biologic drugs that already have approved biosimilars or that will have available biosimilars by 2018.
Currently, Ireland’s Health Products Regulatory Authority supports physician-led switching of biologics and biosimilars, but stresses that any change in prescribing should be made in consultation with the patient. However, the health authority discourages repeated switches and prohibits automatic substitution with biosimilars at the pharmacy level. Looking forward, the paper indicates that Ireland should consider the following policies and how they have affected biosimilar uptake in the European Union (EU) in order to inform its own approach to the drugs:
Prescribing
Education
Incentives and Disincentives
Tendering and Pricing
Preventing Inappropriate Business Practices
Publication of the consultation paper follows a Department of Public Expenditure report, published in May, that urged the Irish government to make substantial changes to its policies in order to rein in drug spending. The paper explained that the Irish government spends €2 billion per year (approximately $2.36 billion), or 15% of its total healthcare expenditure, on drugs. That number is only expected to grow as new, high-cost drugs continue to dominate the healthcare marketplace; the paper cited an estimated 3% annual growth in drug spending until 2020.
The report also noted that Ireland has one of the lowest biosimilar adoption levels in Europe, across both EU- and non-EU states. With only a 15% uptake for biosimilar granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, Ireland was second only to Belgium in terms of the smallest market share for biosimilars.
The Irish Department of Health is holding a public comment period on the consultation paper through September 22, 2017.
Julie Reed: Why 2024 Is Important for Biosimilars
April 17th 2024Julie Reed, executive director of the Biosimilars Forum, showcases how the biosimilar industry is expected to develop throughout 2024, including major policy changes and hope for continued improvement in market share for adalimumab biosimilars.
A New Chapter: How 2023 Will Shape the US Biosimilar Space for 2024 and Beyond
December 31st 2023On this episode of Not So Different, Cencora's Brian Biehn and Corey Ford take a look back at major policy and regulatory advancements in 2023 and how these changes will alter the space going forward.
BioRationality: Removing the Misconceptions Surrounding Interchangeability
April 15th 2024Sarfaraz K. Niazi, PhD, outlines the current state of interchangeable biosimilars in the US and policy changes needed to clear up misconceptions surrounding the meaning behind interchangeability designations.
What AmerisourceBergen's Report Reveals About Payers, Biosimilar Pricing Trends
May 28th 2023On this episode of Not So Different, Tasmina Hydery and Brian Biehn from AmerisourceBergen discussed results from a recent survey, that were also presented at Asembia 2023, diving into the payer perspective on biosimilars and current pricing trends across the US biosimilar industry.
Rising Biosimilar Adoption for an Italian Payer Will Benefit National Health Care System, Patients
April 9th 2024Data from 2021 and 2022 indicates increasing biosimilar use in an Italian health care company, with potential for full adoption in the future, benefiting both the National Health System and citizens through efficient and sustainable health care policies.
Review Highlights Most Popular European Policies to Boost Biosimilar Uptake
April 3rd 2024Although tender systems are a common strategy to encourage biosimilar utilization across Europe, policies like automatic substitution are rarely utilized, according to a systematic review of European policies and biosimilar uptake.