Physician attitudes about non-medical switching to biosimilars: results from an online physician survey in the United States

• Published in: Current medical research and opinion Vol. 35; no. 4; pp. 611 - 617
• Main Authors: Teeple, A., Ellis, L.A., Huff, L., Reynolds, C., Ginsburg, S., Howard, L., Walls, D., Curtis, J. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03-04-2019
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; attitudes; Biologic therapies; biosimilar; Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals - administration & dosage; Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals - therapeutic use; dermatologists; Female; gastroenterologists; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; physician; Physicians - statistics & numerical data; rheumatologists; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States; United States; Biologic therapies; attitudes; rheumatologists; physician; dermatologists; gastroenterologists; biosimilar
• ISSN: 0300-7995; 1473-4877
• DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2019.1571296

Objective: This study was designed to understand the level of familiarity of US rheumatologists, gastroenterologists and dermatologists with biosimilar therapies, their experience with non-medical switching (switching medications for reasons unrelated to patient health) of patients between biologics and their attitudes towards switching from a biologic to a biosimilar.
Methods: A total of 297 US physicians who currently prescribe biologics for their patients completed a 15-minute online survey. Rheumatologists, dermatologists and gastroenterologists were included.
Results: The majority of physicians (84%) did not want stable patients undergoing a non-medical switch to a biosimilar. While 60% of physicians believed non-medical switching to biosimilars may have a positive impact on healthcare system costs, multiple negative impacts were also expected. A majority of physicians anticipated a negative impact on patient mental health (59%), treatment efficacy (57%), patient safety (53%) and physician office management (60%).
Conclusions: The majority of physicians had concerns regarding non-medical switching to biosimilars and the impact such switching would have on patient care and physician practice.