Practice

Elie Bahou, PharmD, senior vice president and system chief pharmacy officer at Providence, discusses strategies to improve equitable access to biologic therapies, including tiered formularies, income-based cost sharing, patient assistance programs, and fostering payer partnerships.

A systematic review identified 13 strategies, including patient and provider education, empathetic communication, and shared decision-making, to mitigate the nocebo effect in biosimilar switching, emphasizing the need for a multifaceted approach to improve patient perceptions and therapeutic outcomes.

A recent study showed similar safety and efficacy of a bevacizumab biosimilar compared with the reference product (Avastin) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC).

Researchers observe significant shifts in payer preferences for originator vs biosimilar products from 2017 to 2022, revealing growing payer interest in multiple product options, alongside the increasing market share of biosimilars, which contributed to notable reductions in both average sales prices and wholesale acquisition costs.

Early adopters of biosimilars have paved the way for broader acceptance by sharing real-world success strategies, overcoming initial resistance, and highlighting best practices for integration and cost savings.

Biosimilars could improve access to biologic treatments and health care sustainability in Latin America, but their adoption is hindered by misconceptions, regulatory gaps, and weak pharmacovigilance, requiring targeted education and stronger regulations.

Part 2 of this series for Global Biosimilars Week dives into the complexities of payer and pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) policies, how they impact biosimilar accessibility, and how addressing these issues may look under a second Trump term.

By expanding educational initiatives to clarify biosimilar safety, efficacy, and interchangeability, stakeholders can foster trust, improve access, and ensure that biosimilars are widely accepted as high-quality, cost-effective alternatives to originator biologics.

Sophia Humphreys, PharmD, MHA, BCBBS, of Sutter Health notes that although initial adoption of adalimumab biosimilars remained low in 2023, competitive pricing pressures have already benefited patients and the health care sector.

A study of the Veterans Health Administration detailed their experience with infliximab biosimilars in a population of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who were naive to infliximab.

A report from Sandoz emphasizes the need for collaboration among stakeholders to eliminate drug shortages impacting over 90% of hospital systems in the US, recommending policy changes and actions to address the ongoing issue, which has caused treatment delays and increased costs.

For biosimilars to overcome these entrenched market dynamics, they must not only compete on price but actively work to build a network of support among providers and patients.

Part 2 of our series diving into the Association for Accessible Medicines' (AAM) latest report discusses that while generics and biosimilars saved $445 billion in 2023, their potential is hindered by high patient costs, drug shortages, and ineffective policies, underscoring the need for reforms to fully realize their benefits.

Savings from generic and biosimilar drugs totaled $445 billion in 2023, showing promise for the growth of both markets and highlighting the success of expansion policies for these products, according to a new report from the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM).

Sophia Humphreys, PharmD, MHA, BCBBS, director of system formulary management at Sutter Health, discusses the challenges of expanding biosimilars into new therapeutic areas and highlights the role of education, competitive pricing, and integrated delivery networks in improving adoption and market growth.

A real-world study of the biosimilar infliximab-dyyb (CT-P13; Inflectra) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) reported the majority of patients who initiated CT-P13 switched from the reference product (Remicade) or another biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug.

Researchers surveyed clinicians from 63 countries and found that adalimumab and infliximab biosimilars, primarily chosen for their lower cost, are widely available and have improved access to biologic treatment in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Jeffrey Casberg discusses key upcoming biosimilars and specialty drugs, the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on drug pricing, and the evolving role of pharmacy benefit managers in the market.

Delayed biosimilar uptake in the US is driven by payer, provider, and patient barriers, but targeted interventions can help boost utilization and savings.

An analysis of subcutaneous biosimilar and originator tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors for rheumatic diseases found no significant differences in survival or discontinuation rates due to inefficacy or adverse events, with biosimilars showing lower overall discontinuation rates and higher retention rates.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can support global health systems in integrating biosimilars into care models, reducing health care costs, enhancing treatment decision-making strategies, and narrowing the gap between high-income and low- and middle-income countries.

Manitoba’s new policy means that all 10 Canadian provinces now have an initiative to boost biosimilar adoption and savings by transitioning patients on reference agents to biosimilar options.

The introduction of biosimilar insulins, particularly insulin glargine, is crucial for improving insulin accessibility and adherence among patients with diabetes in India, according to a study evaluating expert opinions from Indian doctors.

Projected savings from biosimilar natalizumab were $452,611 over 3 years, driven by decreased drug acquisition costs and a utilization shift from reference to biosimilar natalizumab.

Although biosimilars reduce drug purchasing costs for hospitals, it’s unclear whether those savings might be offset by increased health resource utilization following a non-medical switching initiative.

Economic evaluations of biosimilar disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) suggest cost-effectiveness for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who did not respond well to methotrexate, potentially improving patient outcomes and health care affordability.

A Brazilian real-world study found trastuzumab-dkst to be an effective and safe adjuvant therapy for HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer, with clinical outcomes comparable to reference trastuzumab.

Two posters presented at the European Hematology Association’s annual meeting (EHA 2024) evaluated how rituximab biosimilars impact quality of life and infusion-related reactions in patients with lymphatic cancers.

Lack of knowledge and confidence in biosimilars continues despite growing education efforts, impacting provider willingness to prescribe biosimilar medicines and patient perceptions about their treatment and switching to a biosimilar.