Maybe extra training is required. That’s the conclusion from a paper by Giovatto et al. (2024). The authors performed a web based survey of US prescribers and Health system specialty pharmacists working towards within the rheumatology, dermatology, and gastroenterology. Among the many 31 prescribers and 44 pharmacists who responded to the survey:
Solely 16.0% of prescribers and 13.4% of pharmacists reported being “very ready” to have conversations with sufferers about biosimilar choices. 43% of prescribers indicated they’d prescribe a biosimilar to biologic naive sufferers. Nevertheless, 13.3% of prescribers can be keen to prescribe a biosimilar to sufferers efficiently established on biologic remedy. Amongst pharmacists, 68.1% had been snug recommending a biosimilar substitution to a biologic naive affected person, however solely 18.1% would suggest a biosimilar substitution to an present affected person efficiently established on a biologic remedy. Lower than half of prescribers (48.0%) and pharmacists (42.0%) understood rules of interchangeability and substitution.
The total paper is here.