TY - JOUR
T1 - Biosimilar uptake by British local formularies
T2 - A cross sectional study
AU - Alnahar, Saja
AU - Elliott, Rachel A.
AU - Smith, Murray D.
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding This study is part of a Ph.D. project funded by Yarmouk University—Jordan.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, The Author(s).
PY - 2017/10/1
Y1 - 2017/10/1
N2 - Background Biological medicines are starting to lose their patent protection, so similar, inexact copies (biosimilars) are being developed and licensed. The high acquisition costs of biologics for healthcare providers could be reduced by switching to biosimilars, thus alleviating budgetary pressures and increasing patient access. Therefore, the acceptance of biosimilars by prescribers in Great Britain (GB; England, Scotland, Wales) needs to be described and understood. Objective To determine uptake of the first wave of biosimilars (somatropin, epoetin, filgrastim) by local formularies (lists of preferred medicines for prescribing in local healthcare settings). Settings This study targeted local formularies in GB. Method In November 2014, local formularies (medicines formularies of Acute Trusts and Health Boards in GB) were screened for their approach to listing of biologics and their biosimilars as well as recommendations on usage of these pharmaceuticals. Main Outcomes Measures Listing frequencies of biosimilars. Results One hundred and forty-six British local formularies were screened. Amongst the 80% of formularies in which brand names were specified, biosimilar filgrastim was the most frequently listed when compared to the other targeted biosimilars. Biosimilars were listed in preference to reference biologic medicine in 49% of local formularies for filgrastim, 11% for somatropin and in only 6% for epoetin. Conclusion Although the market for biosimilars can act in parallel to the generic market, their uptake measured using local British formularies was less than what is expected given that the British market for medicines has a strong focus on generics. Finally, geographical variability within GB requires further investigation.
AB - Background Biological medicines are starting to lose their patent protection, so similar, inexact copies (biosimilars) are being developed and licensed. The high acquisition costs of biologics for healthcare providers could be reduced by switching to biosimilars, thus alleviating budgetary pressures and increasing patient access. Therefore, the acceptance of biosimilars by prescribers in Great Britain (GB; England, Scotland, Wales) needs to be described and understood. Objective To determine uptake of the first wave of biosimilars (somatropin, epoetin, filgrastim) by local formularies (lists of preferred medicines for prescribing in local healthcare settings). Settings This study targeted local formularies in GB. Method In November 2014, local formularies (medicines formularies of Acute Trusts and Health Boards in GB) were screened for their approach to listing of biologics and their biosimilars as well as recommendations on usage of these pharmaceuticals. Main Outcomes Measures Listing frequencies of biosimilars. Results One hundred and forty-six British local formularies were screened. Amongst the 80% of formularies in which brand names were specified, biosimilar filgrastim was the most frequently listed when compared to the other targeted biosimilars. Biosimilars were listed in preference to reference biologic medicine in 49% of local formularies for filgrastim, 11% for somatropin and in only 6% for epoetin. Conclusion Although the market for biosimilars can act in parallel to the generic market, their uptake measured using local British formularies was less than what is expected given that the British market for medicines has a strong focus on generics. Finally, geographical variability within GB requires further investigation.
KW - Biological medicines
KW - Biosimilars
KW - Great Britain
KW - Local formularies
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Humans
KW - Formularies as Topic/standards
KW - Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals/standards
KW - United Kingdom/epidemiology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85028815680&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11096-017-0523-6
DO - 10.1007/s11096-017-0523-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 28871421
AN - SCOPUS:85028815680
SN - 2210-7703
VL - 39
SP - 1055
EP - 1060
JO - International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
JF - International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
IS - 5
ER -