Biosimilar medicines uptake: The role of the clinical pharmacist

The introduction of biological medicines has revolutionized the management of chronic diseases. Due to the high cost of biological medicine coupled with the fact that patents of many of these medicines are on the verge of expiration, manufacturers are exploring the production of biosimilars. The introduction of biosimilars has the capacity to increase competition among manufacturers, reduce prices, and improve patient access to these medicines. Therefore, a biosimilar is a new wave in therapy and treatment for the next few years. Despite the growing number of biosimilars approved for patient care, physicians' comfort in prescribing reference products against biosimilars and patient reluctance to switch from a reference product to a biosimilar are the major barriers for biosimilar increasing use. This paper aims to highlight the role of the clinical pharmacist (CP) in the utilization of biosimilars and the need for a pharmacy specialty regarding biosimilars. Of all the healthcare providers, CP has the most holistic view of the biosimilar products' clinical profile, and logistical and supply chain considerations. Thus, CPs are uniquely positioned to better educate all biosimilar medicine key stakeholders in an effort to increase access and rational use.