Dr. Mari Polki
Credit: LinkedIn
A recent survey conducted in Finland found that users of originator products oppose switching to biosimilars, mainly due to a lack of knowledge about biosimilars; , it was found that they are not opposed to interchange between biosimilars and originator products.1
“Our findings show that patient knowledge about biosimilars and biological medicines in general could be significantly improved,” said Dr. Mari Polki of Oriola Expert Services in Espoo, Finland. The leading researchers wrote: “Patients’ own awareness of currently used biosimilars and original products was surprisingly weak.”
More and more biosimilars are entering the market, opening up space for cheaper therapeutic options to treat cancer, rheumatic diseases, and more. According to an EMA statement on September 29, 2022, in Europe, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved 86 biosimilars.2
As of 2015, biosimilar exchange is allowed in Finland under the supervision of a medical professional.1 This remained in effect until the amendment to Finland’s healthcare law was passed, which will allow pharmacies to exchange biological medicines bypassing medical professionals from January 1, 2024.
This legislation will allow pharmacies to exchange an EU-approved biosimilar for its reference product or for another biosimilar of the same reference product. However, patients who are used to brand-name products are hesitant about biosimilars. They worry that biosimilars may trigger or worsen immune responses, but drug company experts say switching between brand-name drugs and biosimilars can cause immunogenicity. It is concluded that this is not expected.
Before Finland started replacing biosimilars in pharmacies, a patient survey study collected people’s opinions about biosimilar substitution in pharmacies and knowledge about biologics. Patients were eligible to complete the survey if they were using continuously self-injectable biologic medications, including commercially available biosimilars. They were taking either adalimumab, etanercept, pegfilgrastim, or filgrastim.
Researchers collected anonymous data from 88 community pharmacies across Finland between May and October 2022. The survey took the form of a semi-structured electronic questionnaire consisting of 25 questions.
Most participants (n = 199) were female (69%), with a median age of 50 years. Participants were more likely to use a biosimilar compared to the originator if they were female (70% vs. 58 years) or slightly younger (48 years vs. 53 years) became. Almost half of the sample (45%) had secondary education as their highest education.
Women were more likely to use biosimilars, as 58% of women were original users and 70% of women were biosimilar users.
Because drugs were exchanged at pharmacies, respondents did not know whether they were taking the original product or the biosimilar, and many were unable to tell the difference even after taking the drug. Patients are most likely to use a biosimilar if the biologic drug is newer.
“Initial results from this large patient surveillance study show that the longer a biologic has been used, the more likely it is to refer to an originator product and not be switched to a biosimilar. “There is,” the researchers wrote.
Most original users (72%) had been using their current biologic drug for more than 3 years. However, 89% of biosimilar users had been using their current biologic drug for less than 3 years.
“Study results show that biological therapies are more likely to be initiated with biosimilars in recent years than in the past, but demand for this trend still exists to contain healthcare costs. “, the research team added.
Almost half (47%) of biosimilar users were able to name the drug’s brand name and were aware that the product was biosimilar. However, 31% believed the drug was the inventor.
Similarly, 80% of originator users knew they were using an originator but did not think they were using a biosimilar. Additionally, 20-23% of originator and biosimilar users did not know the product they were using.
The survey found that 41% of patients reported hesitance to try biosimilars, and only 40% of respondents allowed their pharmacies to switch from biologics to lower-cost products. was. Many (76%) wanted to continue using the medication prescribed by their doctor.
Overall, more biosimilar users (45%) than originator users (31%) were satisfied with the idea of replacing an originator product with a biosimilar. In contrast, originator users were more opposed to exchange than biosimilar users (30% vs. 15%), while 79% of patients had no opinion.
“Using biosimilars instead of originators reduces costs…However, to our knowledge, there is little published information on the effectiveness and importance of in-pharmacy substitution,” the researchers concluded. I did. “Pharmacies will play an important role in guiding patients, especially those currently using brand-name products, to more affordable alternatives…Patients feel more secure when offered an alternative. You must feel the similarities in efficacy and safety of different products and understand the similarities in their products to ensure proper compliance. ”
References
- Pölkki M, Prami T. Biosimilars will reduce healthcare costs but are still largely unknown – a patient survey study among biomedical users. Integration Pharma Research. 2024;13:9-16. Published February 3, 2024. doi:10.2147/IPRP.S440888
- Biosimilar medicines are interchangeable. European Medicines Agency. September 19, 2022. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/biosimilar-medicines-can-be-interchanged. Accessed February 15, 2024.