The National Health Service’s (NHS) Specialist Pharmacy Service released resources for clinicians to use with patients in the discussions around switching from the reference Humira to a biosimilar.
As the United Kingdom prepares for the arrival of biosimilar adalimumab next month, government agencies are also preparing to answer many patient and physician questions about potential changes to patients’ treatment.
Last week, the National Health Service’s (NHS) Specialist Pharmacy Service released resources for clinicians to use with patients in the discussions around switching from the reference Humira to a biosimilar. The resources include a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, as well as a template of patient letter with information about what the switch might mean for them.
Click here to read about educational biosimilar resources from the FDA.
The FAQ document includes background information about biologics and biosimilars, answering questions such as “What is a biosimilar?” and “Are biosimilars safe?” It also includes the reasoning behind why NHS will be instituting the switch, stating that, “Biosimilar medicines represent very good value for the NHS since they are often much less costly than the originator medicine. The NHS is asking clinical teams, in discussion with individual patients, to use more biosimilar medicines so that the money saved can be reinvested in new medicines and treatments.”
Furthermore, the document describes the type of patient best suited to a biosimilar, namely, most patients who are currently receiving an originator biologic, even if they have just started to take that medication. However, NHS does note numerous times throughout the text that if a patient has any questions or concerns about his or her eligibility to receive the biosimilar, these should be addressed with their individual clinical team.
Finally, the documents answer questions about how the biosimilar will be administered and address any differences in the administration from that of the reference product.
This is just the latest in a string of resources centered around educating patients about biosimilars that have been released. Earlier this month, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published new patient-focused educational materials that look to increase patient awareness about biosimilars and assure the safety and efficacy of the products to their reference biologics.
Concurrently with the release of the new materials, the EMA also released new translations of its existing biosimilar guide for healthcare providers in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Skyrizi Overtakes Humira: “Product Hopping” Leaves Biosimilar Market in Limbo
November 7th 2024For the first time, Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) has replaced Humira (reference adalimumab) as AbbVie’s sales driver, largely due to companies encouraging “product hopping” to avoid competition, creating concerns for the sustainability of the burgeoning adalimumab biosimilar market.
Biosimilars in America: Overcoming Barriers and Maximizing Impact
July 21st 2024Join us as we explore the complexities of the US biosimilars market, discussing legislative influences, payer and provider adoption factors, and strategies to overcome industry challenges with expert insights from Kyle Noonan, PharmD, MS, value & access strategy manager at Cencora.
Eye on Pharma: Henlius, Organon Updates; Meitheal Portfolio Expansion; Celltrion Zymfentra Data
November 5th 2024Henlius and Organon’s pertuzumab biosimilar met phase 3 goals; Meitheal expanded its US biosimilars; Celltrion’s subcutaneous infliximab (Zymfentra) showed monotherapy could be as effective as combination therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.
Breaking Barriers in Osteoporosis Care: New Denosumab Biosimilars Wyost, Jubbonti Approved
June 16th 2024In this episode, The Center for Biosimilars® delves into the FDA approval of the first denosumab biosimilars, Wyost and Jubbonti (denosumab-bbdz), and discuss their potential to revolutionize osteoporosis treatment with expert insights from 2 rheumatologists.
Panelists Stress Stakeholder Education to Build Confidence in Biosimilars
October 31st 2024By 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.
Competitive Pricing in Biosimilars: How Adalimumab Could Shape the Industry
Published: October 29th 2024 | Updated: October 29th 2024Sophia 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.