SEE ALL THE MONTHS

1

Scientific article

Biosimilars and access to biological therapies in immune-mediated diseases

Published the complete and definitive version of the study carried out by the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacists (SEFH), which evaluates the potential impact of biosimilars of adalimumab, infliximab and etanercept on access to biological therapies by patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. This observational and retrospective study, which has included 267 patients from 15 hospitals in 9 different regions in Spain, has identified statistically significant differences in the time of access to these therapies once the diagnosis is made, which goes from 8,6 years to 7, an advance of 19 months that can be attributed to the commercialization of the biosimilar. Furthermore, differences are also observed in the time elapsed from marketing to availability in hospitals of the reference medicine and biosimilars (0,7 years), in favor of the latter.

Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14712598.2024.2350440

2

Website

Biosimilars in numbers

New information published on the BioSim website, in this case the update of the “Biosimilars in figures” section, which expands the data already published for the first half of 2023. The new data corresponding to the period January-December 2023 make up the summary of the past year regarding the situation of biosimilars in the National Health System (SNS). Among all the data reflected, a consumption of almost 6 million containers stands out, with a global adoption in the SNS of 50%, consolidating the penetration of the biosimilar in hospitals at 76%, where 5 active ingredients are already above 90 %, and rising to 33% in pharmacies, where enoxaparin sodium continues to be the most used active ingredient in its biosimilar version. Furthermore, the rapid penetration of active ingredients with recently approved biosimilars, such as eculizumab, is especially encouraging and relevant.

biosim

https://www.biosim.es/encifras/medicamentos-biosimilares-en-cifras-enero-diciembre-2023/

3

Virtual event

Biosimilars in oncology. Innovation is in sustainability

The videos and summary of the event “Biosimilars in oncology” are now available. Innovation is in sustainability” organized by the ECO Foundation. The virtual meeting included the participation of Dr. Pilar García Alfonso, head of the Medical Oncology Section of the Gregorio Marañón University Hospital (Madrid) and Dr. Asunción Albert, head of the Hospital Pharmacy Section of the La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital ( Valencia), and was moderated by Olga Lambea, RTVE presenter. Throughout the talk, different advantages associated with promoting the use of biosimilars were highlighted, such as greater access to combination therapies, cost reduction and the incorporation of innovation. Furthermore, the importance of continuing to focus on training was stressed, especially in aspects such as interchangeability or extrapolation of indications, as well as the need to have maximum participation in research by medical oncologists to facilitate the development of new biosimilars.

ECO Foundation

https://fundacioneco.es/event/eco-dialogues-biosimilares-en-oncologia-la-innovacion-esta-en-la-sostenibilidad/

4

EC Resolution

Marketing authorization of the first biosimilars of denosumab and omalizumab

After receiving a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) in March of this year, the first biosimilars of denosumab and omalizumab already have marketing authorization from the European Commission (EC). The new biosimilars of denosumab have been approved for all indications of its reference drugs: osteoporosis, bone loss, treatment of giant cell bone tumor and prevention of skeletal events. Likewise, the omalizumab biosimilar has been authorized for the treatment of the same indications as its reference medicine: allergic asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and chronic spontaneous urticaria. These marketing authorizations, added to those recently granted to the biosimilars of tocilizumab, ustekinumab, natalizumab, aflibercept and eculizumab, represent the approval of biosimilars of 6 new active ingredients in the last 14 months.

European Commission

https://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/html/h1812.htm
https://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/html/h1813.htm
https://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/html/h1817.htm

5

Scientific article

Incentives for the prescription of biosimilars: Results of a French pilot project for profit sharing between hospitals and the National Health System

On many occasions, the insufficient prescription of biosimilars is conditioned by factors such as the habit established among doctors of prescribing the reference molecule, which is much better known, or the patient's reluctance to be treated or to change treatment to a biosimilar. In France, keeping in mind that the development of biosimilars depends entirely on their prescription volume, they have tried to develop methods that encourage use. This article reflects the impact produced by the implementation of an incentive system in the prescription of biosimilars of insulin glargine and etanercept, between October 2018 and September 2021. After 3 years, the difference in penetration of biosimilars between the participating hospitals and those that were left out of the incentive system was 7% in the case of insulin glargine, and 9,7% in the case of etanercept. Furthermore, it is concluded that these positive results suggest that the return of the incentive to hospital services was, without a doubt, a determining factor in the change in the behavior of hospital prescribers.

Economy and Statistics

https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/8186061?sommaire=8186084

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