VIDEO: Concerns linger for interchangeable biosimilar switch ‘without prescriber knowing’
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In a Healio video exclusive, Edward V. Loftus Jr., MD, noted that although some concerns remain for switching patients between interchangeable biosimilars, data has continued to show acceptable outcomes as well as “increased access.”
With three interchangeable biosimilars now available for use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease – Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm, Boehringer Ingelheim); Abrilada (adalimumab-afzb, Pfizer); and Wezlana (ustekinumab-auub, Amgen) – an increasing number of gastroenterologists and their patients have become familiar with the concept of biosimilar interchangeability and how it could benefit patient access to costly medications. This understanding, however, is not universal.
“The cover story in this month’s issue of Healio Gastroenterology [discusses] interchangeable biosimilars, which are like biosimilars, except that they have been studied a bit more than your average biosimilar,” Loftus, the Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Professor of Gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic, told Healio. “There has to be a study that involves multiple switches between the reference product and the biosimilar in order to get that interchangeability designation.”
He added: “This also means that in certain states, depending on the state pharmacy laws, an interchangeable biosimilar can be switched from the reference product to the biosimilar without even the prescriber knowing about it. That might cause some people to be concerned, but the biosimilar approval process is a pretty good one, and I think has resulted in increased access to medications for some patients.”
In his accompanying editorial in the April issue, Loftus noted that “ultimately, the availability of biosimilars that are less expensive than originator drugs will benefit the U.S. health care system, but unfortunately, those benefits may be less apparent to the individual provider or patient.”
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