This week, the Spanish Society of Digestive Pathology (SEPD) became the most recent organization to announce an updated position statement on the use of biosimilars.
This week, the Spanish Society of Digestive Pathology (SEPD) became the most recent organization to announce an updated position statement on the use of biosimilars.
Published in The Spanish Journal of Gastroenterology,1 the new position statement explains the organization's current thinking on biosimilar usage, extrapolation, and switching. SEPD came to these viewpoints based on the data found by the NOR-SWITCH study, and the new views of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO) on biosimilars.
SEPD’s new position holds that that:
In addition to SEPD, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) also updated its biosimilar position statement in recent days. ASCO’s statement notes that, in terms of the safety and efficacy of biosimilars, postmarket evidence will be key to demonstrating the value of biosimilars to stakeholders. In order to make informed treatment choices, ASCO also emphasizes that prescribers should be consulted before a pharmacist substitutes an interchangeable biosimilar for a reference product. In addition, ASCO discussed the importance of healthcare stakeholders to be able to easily identify products to ensure that patients receive the correct therapy.
In order to limit patient’s out-of-pocket costs, ASCO states that, if a biosimilar is not designated as interchangeable, it could be subject to policies that cover single-source and non-preferred products. “Reasonable compensation, fair and medically appropriate coverage, and transparency of cost will serve to ensure a true value benefit to patients and society and promote access to new and innovative therapies,” notes ASCO.
Reference
1. Arguelles F, Hinojosa J, Mendoza I. Update of the SEPD position statement on the use of biosimilars for inflammatory bowel disease. Published online March 12, 2018. Rev Esp Enferm Dig. doi: 10.17235/reed.2018.5456/2018.
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