Biosimilar uptake by British local formularies: a cross sectional study

Area of Science:

• Pharmacoeconomics
• Health Policy
• Drug Development

Background:

• Biological medicines are losing patent protection, leading to the development of biosimilars.
• Biosimilars offer potential cost reductions for healthcare providers, easing budget constraints and improving patient access.
• Understanding prescriber acceptance of biosimilars in Great Britain (GB) is crucial for their successful integration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the uptake of the initial wave of biosimilars (somatropin, epoetin, filgrastim) within local formularies in GB.
• To analyze the listing practices and usage recommendations for biologics and their biosimilars in British healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• Screening of 146 local formularies (Acute Trusts and Health Boards) in GB in November 2014.
• Analysis of formulary approaches to listing biologics and biosimilars, including specified brand names and usage recommendations.
• Quantification of biosimilar listing frequencies compared to their reference biologic medicines.

Main Results:

• Biosimilar filgrastim was the most frequently listed among the studied biosimilars in formularies specifying brand names (80%).
• Biosimilars were preferred over reference biologics in 49% of formularies for filgrastim, 11% for somatropin, and 6% for epoetin.
• Significant geographical variability in biosimilar uptake across GB warrants further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Biosimilar market entry in GB, while capable of paralleling the generic market, shows slower uptake than anticipated.
• The strong focus on generic medicines in the British pharmaceutical market may influence biosimilar acceptance.
• Further research is needed to explore the reasons behind geographical disparities in biosimilar adoption within Great Britain.