Morgane Beck1, Bruno Michel2,3,4, Marie-Christine Rybarczyk-Vigouret2, Dominique Levêque3, Christelle Sordet5, Jean Sibilia5, Michel Velten6. 1. OMEDIT Alsace, Agence Régionale de Santé Alsace Champagne-Ardenne Lorraine, 14, rue du Maréchal Juin, 67084, Strasbourg, France. Morgane.BECK@ars.sante.fr. 2. OMEDIT Alsace, Agence Régionale de Santé Alsace Champagne-Ardenne Lorraine, 14, rue du Maréchal Juin, 67084, Strasbourg, France. 3. Service de Pharmacie-Stérilisation, C.H.R.U. Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. 4. Laboratoire HuManiS-EA 7308, Faculté de pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. 5. Service de Rhumatologie, C.H.R.U. Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. 6. Laboratoire d'épidémiologie et de santé publique-EA3430, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Healthcare cost savings are closely linked to prescribers' confidence in and acceptance of the prescription of biosimilar drugs. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, experience and opinions of hospital-based and office-based French rheumatologists with regard to biosimilar medicines and to identify the barriers to and possible options to promote their prescription. METHODS: A web-based, self-administered survey was conducted among French rheumatologists from June 8 to August 2, 2015. RESULTS: A total of 116 rheumatologists responded to the survey. Many reported having little knowledge and a lack of available information about biosimilar drugs, especially office-based rheumatologists. 98.3% of the respondents had at least one question about biosimilars, and seven in ten raised issues regarding substitution, iatrogenic effects or cost savings that might be achievable. Only eight rheumatologists had already prescribed a biosimilar drug. The most common barriers reported were indication extrapolation and a lack of data about tolerability. Nine out of ten physicians thought that starting a treatment with a biosimilar drug in biologic treatment-naïve patients was possible. The rheumatologists' opinions were rather favorable towards the implementation of biosimilars, but a majority expressed a negative opinion about substitution by the pharmacist. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey gave a better appreciation of the concerns associated with biosimilar prescriptions. Targeted communication initiatives, deeper experience and availability of new clinical data may help to address the outstanding questions and should overcome the misunderstandings surrounding biosimilar drugs among rheumatologists.
BACKGROUND: Healthcare cost savings are closely linked to prescribers' confidence in and acceptance of the prescription of biosimilar drugs. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, experience and opinions of hospital-based and office-based French rheumatologists with regard to biosimilar medicines and to identify the barriers to and possible options to promote their prescription. METHODS: A web-based, self-administered survey was conducted among French rheumatologists from June 8 to August 2, 2015. RESULTS: A total of 116 rheumatologists responded to the survey. Many reported having little knowledge and a lack of available information about biosimilar drugs, especially office-based rheumatologists. 98.3% of the respondents had at least one question about biosimilars, and seven in ten raised issues regarding substitution, iatrogenic effects or cost savings that might be achievable. Only eight rheumatologists had already prescribed a biosimilar drug. The most common barriers reported were indication extrapolation and a lack of data about tolerability. Nine out of ten physicians thought that starting a treatment with a biosimilar drug in biologic treatment-naïve patients was possible. The rheumatologists' opinions were rather favorable towards the implementation of biosimilars, but a majority expressed a negative opinion about substitution by the pharmacist. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey gave a better appreciation of the concerns associated with biosimilar prescriptions. Targeted communication initiatives, deeper experience and availability of new clinical data may help to address the outstanding questions and should overcome the misunderstandings surrounding biosimilar drugs among rheumatologists.
Authors: Hanna M Tolonen; Marja Sa Airaksinen; Päivi Ruokoniemi; Katri Hämeen-Anttila; Kenneth M Shermock; Pekka Kurki Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-10-28 Impact factor: 2.692