Few rheumatologists say economic benefits of biosimilars sufficient to warrant switching
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Although most rheumatologists report they are comfortable with the idea of prescribing biosimilars, only approximately 18% think the economic benefits warrant switching their patients to one, according to a Cardinal Health survey.
“Ultimately, biosimilars need to deliver on their oft-promised savings and deliver value to all stakeholders,” Jeffrey R. Curtis, MD, MS, MPH, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, wrote in the 2023 Biosimilar Report published by Cardinal Health. “For rheumatology patients with adequate commercial insurance coverage, biosimilars may offer little upside, and may be met with skepticism as to their benefit. Ensuring that all stakeholders’ needs are met to affect a smooth transition to biosimilars remains an important challenge in the year to come.”
The survey, aiming to measure the attitudes of physicians in pertinent specialties regarding biosimilars, polled 103 rheumatologists regarding their familiarity and comfortability with the drugs. In addition, respondents answered questions on the importance of educating patients about biosimilars, their potential impact on patient wellbeing and the economics of switching.
In all, 62% of surveyed rheumatologists said they feel “very comfortable” prescribing biosimilars for their patients, while just 6% feel “not very comfortable” prescribing them, according to the report.
Meanwhile, approximately half — 53% — said they believe biosimilars will positively impact their patients’ care. Less than half — 47% — reported they were “excited” for the growing number of rheumatology biosimilars expected to come to market.
Asked which types of patients they would most likely prescribe a biosimilar, 41% of surveyed rheumatologists answered, “existing patients for whom payers have mandated a biosimilar,” while 40% chose “new patients.” Just 9% said they would most likely prescribe a biosimilar to existing patients demonstrating success on a reference product, while 4% reported the same for existing patients having limited success on a reference product. Approximately 6% reported they were not likely to prescribe a biosimilar to any patients at this time.
Regarding the economic impact of swapping reference products for biosimilars, 54% of surveyed rheumatologists agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, “Today, the economics of biosimilars are not favorable enough to motivate me to switch from the reference products.” Meanwhile, 15% disagreed, while only 3% strongly disagreed and 28% neither agreed nor disagreed.
“Importantly, more than half of rheumatologists felt that the economic benefits observed to date from having biosimilars were not favorable enough to motivate switching,” Curtis wrote. “Both biosimilar efficacy, and the lack of economic benefit (to patients and/or to providers), were rheumatologists’ top concerns related to increasing uptake. Not surprisingly, the group of patients where there was the greatest comfort to use a biosimilar was for patients initiating therapy, rather than those who were already established on a reference biologic treatment.”
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