Research presented at the European League Against Rheumatism’s Annual European Congress of Rheumatology concluded that patients’ attitudes and level of satisfaction with switching to a biosimilar for etanercept or infliximab was associated with their level of health literacy, defined as being given sufficient and necessary information concerning their health.
Researchers found that 80% of patients taking originator etanercept (Enbrel) or originator infliximab (Remicade) who were switched to less expensive biosimilars reported being satisfied or neutral about being switched to a less expensive biosimilar medication. Nearly 1 in 5 patients reported being dissatisfied with the switch to a biosimilar medication. The researchers said that the patients’ attitudes and level of satisfaction with the biosimilar switch were associated with their level of health literacy, defined by the researchers as being given sufficient and necessary information concerning their health.
The study’s findings were presented by Milada Cvancarova Smastuen, PhD, and colleagues at the European League Against Rheumatism’s Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, held June 13-16, 2018, in Amsterdam.
Of the 290 Norwegian patients in the original study group taking Enbrel and Remicade, 155 reported being switched to a biosimilar. Only 14% of switched patients reported being involved in the decision to switch to a biosimilar. The researchers noted that economically motivated switching to biosimilar medications from originator biological medications has been in practice in Norway since 2016.
Data on patients’ attitudes toward, and experiences with, biosimilar switching were gathered from several questionnaires administered via a web survey in January 2017, which also collected demographic information such as gender, age, and marital status. Patients’ health-related literacy was measured using the Health Literacy Questionnaire, a multidimensional validated questionnaire. The investigators used 3 domains covering patients’ ability to actively engage with healthcare providers (scale 6), ability to find good health information (scale 8), and understanding health information well enough to know what to do (scale 9). Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression and results were expressed as odds for being satisfied with the switch.
The authors found that self-assessed good health was strongly associated with a higher probability of being satisfied with the switch; only 9 of 74 patients who reported poor health also reported being satisfied. Adjusted for age and health self-assessment, scales 6 and 8 (but not 9) were significantly associated with higher odds of being satisfied with being switched (odds ration [OR], 2.5; 95% CI, 1.2-5.2 and OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-5.9, respectively).
The study also observed that:
Pfizer financially supported the study through an unrestricted grant.
Reference
Smastuen MC, Brandvold M, Andenaes R. Is patient satisfaction with being switched to a biosimilar medication associated with their level of health literacy? Results from a Norwegian user survey. Ann Rheum Dis. 2018;77(Suppl 2):86.
Eye on Pharma: BI Cyltezo Partnership; Europe Ustekinumab Launch; Mexico Biosimilar Approval
July 24th 2024Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) partners with GoodRx to offer its unbranded adalimumab biosimilar to patients at an exclusive low price; a new ustekinumab biosimilar launches in Europe; and Mexican officials approve a bevacizumab biosimilar.
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.
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.
Hesitancy in MENA Nations to Adopt WHO Biosimilar Guidelines Hinders Market Development
July 17th 2024The World Health Organization’s (WHO) new guidelines for biosimilar approvals aim to save time and money for manufacturers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), but hesitancy among nations to adopt the guidelines is stifling market development of biosimilars.