This site is intended for U.S. health care professionals.
This site is intended for U.S. health care professionals.

Leading the Charge With Biosimilars

Health-system pharmacists play a pivotal role in successful biosimilar adoption1

Savings to the health care system from biosimilars are expected to see an exponential increase by 2025.2 How can stakeholders help facilitate the potential for benefits from biosimilars?

References: 1. Zlatkus A, Bixby T, Goyal K. Considerations for the US health-system pharmacist in a world of biosimilars. Drugs Context. 2020;9:2019-12-1. doi:10.7573/dic.2019-12-1 2. Aitken M, Kleinrock M, Muñoz E. Biosimilars in the United States 2020–2024: competition, savings, and sustainability. IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science. September 29, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2023. https://www.iqvia.com/insights/the-iqvia-institute/reports/biosimilars-in-the-united-states-2020-2024

Health-system pharmacists have an important voice in biosimilar adoption1

The potential for benefits to the health care system increases as more institutions embrace biosimilars.2 Successful implementation at the institutional level starts with a strong formulary committee adoption proposal.1

Some of the considerations that may shape a recommendation are1:

Clinical

  • Approved indications and usage
  • Demonstrations of similar efficacy, dosing and administration, and safety
  • How to transition patients who are currently stable on the reference product

Logistical

  • Management of multiple product inventories
  • Tracking procedures for billing accuracy
  • State-by-state regulations

Economic

  • Patient out-of-pocket costs
  • Potential savings from portfolio-wide contracts with manufacturers
  • Overall pricing and revenue

Educational

  • Availability of materials to enhance stakeholders’ understanding of biosimilars

Pharmacists can help set stakeholders up for success by ensuring they are well supported and informed throughout the adoption process.1

How else might pharmacy leaders chart the way forward?

References: 1. Zlatkus A, Bixby T, Goyal K. Considerations for the US health-system pharmacist in a world of biosimilars. Drugs Context. 2020;9:2019-12-1. doi:10.7573/dic.2019-12-1 2. Mulcahy AW, Hlávka JP, Case SR. Biosimilar cost savings in the United States: initial experience and future potential. Rand Health Quarterly. 2018 Mar;7(4). Accessed March 22, 2023. https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/perspectives/PE200/PE264/RAND_PE264.pdf