- Bone Health
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Respiratory
- Dermatology
- Diabetes
- Gastroenterology
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Rare Disease
- Rheumatology
Dr Gary Lyman: Formulary Placements and Physicians' Biosimilar Prescribing Patterns
Gary Lyman, MD, MPH, an oncologist and hematologist, discusses how biosimilar placement on formularies affects physicians' willingness to prescribe these agents.
Gary Lyman, MD, MPH, is an oncologist, hematologist, and public health researcher who has long been an advocate for biosimilars. He has also developed guidelines in support of using biosimilars in the oncology space.
Transcript:
What’s your take on payer formularies and how biosimilar placements on these preferred lists affect use at the physician level?
Lyman: Well, the payer formularies and prioritization, in some cases, have a fairly profound impact on what drugs oncologists and other clinicians can use because it directly impacts the patient. Oftentimes, by prioritizing a certain therapy or certain biologic, a payer is saying that we will cover that and either not cover alternatives if you decide to not to use the favored agent or not pay at all. The burden is left either on the patient in terms of a much higher cost of care or is borne by the institution and the provider, which, of course, is not an attractive option either.
So, in the end, although we talk about guidelines and how health care systems themselves have their own favorite agents, ultimately, they have to meld with the payer because of that reimbursement for these costly drugs. If [a drug] is not fully reimbursed, that directly impacts the patient and the provider. So, I would say it's a fairly dramatic effect.
What Clinicians Need to Know About Using Biosimilars to Treat IBD
April 13th 2024A review article, intended to act as a guide for clinicians, summarizes the available infliximab and adalimumab biosimilars for treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as well as others that are coming down the pipeline.
Decoding the Patent Puzzle: Navigating the Legal Landscape of Biosimilars
March 17th 2024On this episode of Not So Different, Ha Kung Wong, JD, an intellectual patent attorney and partner at Venable LLP, details the confusing landscape that is the US patent system and how it can be improved to help companies overcome barriers to biosimilar competition.
Biosimilars Council: PBM Rebate Schemes Cost Americans, Payers $6 Billion
April 10th 2024A report from the Biosimilars Council evaluating IQVIA data found that rebate schemes orchestrated by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are costing US patients and payers billions of dollars by suppressing biosimilar adoption.
Exploring the Biosimilar Horizon: Julie Reed's Predictions for 2024
February 18th 2024On this episode of Not So Different, Julie Reed, executive director of the Biosimilars Forum, returns to discuss her predictions for the biosimilar industry for 2024 and beyond as well as the impact that the Forum's 4 new members will have on the organization's mission.
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.
