1
Report
Report on Savings on Generic and Biosimilar Drugs in the United States
The annual report of the Association for Accessible Medicines (Association that represents the industry of generic and biosimilar medicines in the US) reviews the situation of off-patent medicines in the North American territory. The Biosimilars overview chapter stands out, where there are interesting graphs of the impact of biosimilars in the US, in terms of savings (total of $7Bn between 2015 and 2021) and broken down by molecule, improvement of patient access, impact of price competition (on average 50% lower for biosimilars) or the potential impact on pharmaceutical spending (between 2022 and 2026). On this last point, the impact of the biosimilars of adalimumab that have not yet been marketed in the US, which is expected for 2023, and of ustekinumab, foreseeable for 2024, is striking.
Association of Accessible Medicines
2
News
Saskatchewan Launches Biosimilars Initiative
Saskatchewa is another of the Canadian regions that is following in the footsteps of Alberta, Quebec or New Brunswick in promoting biosimilars by switching patients to biosimilar alternatives. For new patients starting on a biologic drug, the Saskatchewan Drug Plan will only cover biosimilar versions.
Approximately 24.000 patients already receiving a originator biologic are expected to transition to a biosimilar version by April 30, 2023, although exceptions will be considered for those who cannot use a biosimilar for a medical reason, with appropriate clinical justification . With this measure, the Ministry of Health estimates that the province will achieve annual savings of approximately $20 million once patients complete the transition to biosimilars before May 1, 2023.
Saskatchewa Region, Canada
3
Scientific article
Moving Forward: Applying Health Psychology Research to Improve Patient Acceptance of Biosimilars
Biosimilars can improve access and reduce the cost of treatments that are otherwise too expensive and largely inaccessible for many patients in different regions of the world. It is known that the change of treatment to a biosimilar drug generates uncertainty and represents a barrier to the adequate adoption of patients to the new drug due to the already known nocebo effect. The psychological component in patient acceptance of a change to a biosimilar requires an approach that delves into the mechanisms behind patient resistance and encourages patient participation in the transition process. This article deals in depth with the implementation of strategies and psychological interventions to respond to this challenge.
Gasteiger C & Petrie KJ. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1551741122000857
4
video tip
How is the quality, safety and efficacy of biosimilar medicines ensured?
Video advice of the series of videos made by the General Council of Colleges of Pharmacists and MedicineTV and promoted by BioSim. In this case, the video focuses on explaining in an understandable way how to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of biosimilar medicines. These videos focus on what biosimilar medicines are, how they differ from generic medicines, myths and hoaxes about these drugs, their evolution and their contribution to the health system are some of the topics that are addressed in this new channel. This is a health education initiative that has the joint participation of the national committees of Industry, Hospital Pharmacy and the Pharmacy Office of the General Council of Pharmacists.
General Council of Colleges of Pharmacists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alEoKmZa_wY&list=PL3n4WGtlmfBhg5630VMpIiFubzczv_11O&index=4
5
Report
US Biosimilar Drug Trends Report
Amgen publishes a new installment of the US Biosimilar Trends Report. It includes an analysis of the penetration of biosimilars in oncology, supportive therapies and immune-mediated diseases. It also segments the stakeholders, their role and challenges in the adoption of biosimilars.
In the "Trends" chapter it is worth consulting the evolution in the adoption of biosimilars. The slow entry of infliximab (46% market share) stands out compared to oncology biosimilars, which entered the market later and have higher adoption rates. Of interest for their clarity and conciseness are page 11, which includes a history of biosimilar entry into the US, and page 95, which reflects the regulatory milestones for biosimilars in the US from 2010 to the present.