Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 29, 2025
07:25
In Vitro Methods for Comparing Target Binding and CDC Induction Between Therapeutic Antibodies: Applications in Biosimilarity Analysis
Published on: May 4, 2017
18.0K
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards Biosimilars and Interchangeable Products: A Prescriptive Insight by the
Sadia Shakeel1,2, Mohamed Azmi Hassali1, Hina Rehman3
1Discipline of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
International Journal of General Medicine
|November 18, 2020
Summary
Pharmacists possess strong knowledge of biosimilar medicines (BSMs) but show some gaps in applying this knowledge in practice. Further insights are needed for effective BSM integration into routine clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Pharmacoeconomics
Background:
- Pharmacists are key educators and advocates for biosimilar medicine (BSM) integration.
- Awareness of BSM handling is crucial for pharmacists as drug experts.
- This study assesses pharmacists' knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding BSMs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate pharmacists' understanding and application of knowledge concerning biosimilar medicines.
- To identify potential barriers and facilitators for BSM integration in clinical practice.
- To inform strategies for enhancing pharmacists' role in BSM utilization.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted among pharmacists in Karachi from August to November 2019.
- A 30-item questionnaire assessed knowledge, attitude, and practices related to BSMs and interchangeable products.
- Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation and independent sample t-test (p<0.05).
Main Results:
- A high response rate (87.14%) was achieved with 305 completed surveys.
- Over 80% of pharmacists demonstrated good knowledge of BSM definition, characteristics, safety, efficacy, and utilization.
- Confidence in BSM use was reported by 48.9%, though concerns about safety (45.2%), quality (30.2%), and efficacy (32.3%) persisted.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacists are generally well-informed about biosimilar medicines.
- Attitudinal responses suggest a gap between knowledge and practical application of BSMs.
- Pharmacists are enthusiastic about gaining more insights for routine BSM integration, driven by disease patterns and patient care needs.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Drug Products: Biologics, Biosimilars and Interchangeables
126
Body:Biologics, derived from living sources such as humans, animals, or microorganisms, represent a significant category of pharmaceuticals. These complex molecules, developed through advanced biotechnological methods or purified from natural sources, include essential medical treatments like insulin and growth hormones. The complexity of biologics arises from their large molecular structures and the intricate processes required for their production, making them distinct from conventional...
126
01:16Bioequivalence: Overview
1.5K
Pharmaceutical equivalents, by definition, are drug products with the same active ingredient in the same quantities, encapsulated in identical dosage forms, and intended for the same administration routes. These pharmaceutical equivalents are deemed bioequivalent if the bioavailability of the active entity in the drug preparations is similar. Moreover, pharmaceutical equivalents demonstrating bioequivalence are also regarded as therapeutically equivalent. This means that when used as directed,...
1.5K
01:28Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics: Overview
3.0K
Understanding drugs, drug products, and their performance in pharmaceutical science is pivotal. Drugs, whether simple molecules or complex compounds, are designed to interact with the body's biological systems to diagnose, treat, or prevent diseases. Drug products include various delivery systems such as tablets, capsules, injections, and inhalers. The performance of these drug products is gauged by their ability to deliver the active ingredient to the desired site of action at the...
3.0K
01:19Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Excipients and Impurities-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence
77
Pharmaceutical products contain more than just the active drug; they also contain various excipients such as binders, solubilizers, stabilizers, preservatives, and other elements. In some cases, impurities or contaminants might be present. Traditionally, quality control in pharmaceuticals has primarily focused on the analysis of the active drug, often overlooking the impact of these additional components. The recent issue with heparin contamination by over-sulfated chondroitin sulfate, a...
77
01:09Bioequivalence of Drugs: Drugs with Multiple Indications
70
The concept of therapeutic equivalence (TE) in drugs with multiple indications is complex. A generic drug may be therapeutically equivalent to a brand-name product for one specific indication, but this doesn't necessarily mean it's equivalent for all other indications. Evidence of TE in one patient group and bioequivalence shown in healthy volunteers can support—but not confirm—TE for other indications. However, definitive proof requires individual clinical studies for each...
70
01:26Pharmaceutical Equivalents
97
As defined by regulatory standards, pharmaceutical equivalents require generic drug products to have identical dosage forms and chemically identical active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). They must adhere to compendial or applicable standards for potency, content uniformity, disintegration times, and dissolution rates. In the case of modified-release dosage forms, variations in drug content are permissible as long as the delivered amount remains consistent with the innovator drug product.
97