“The switching studies of brand to biosimilar are ongoing to determine interchangeability. This is still unclear,” Dr. Field says.
What are the cost savings?
Possible answer: “The pathway to FDA approval is less costly [for biosimilars], and the end price should be significantly less. We are all eagerly awaiting more information regarding exactly how much less costly these drugs will be,” Dr. Huston says. However, early indications show the drugs may be somewhat less expensive, but still hard for an individual to pay. “It seems to me the initial push toward biosimilars will be driven more by insurance companies rather than patient preference.”
[Editor’s note: Wholesaler shipment of Inflectra in the U.S. began on Nov. 21, 2016. It is priced at a 15% discount to the current wholesale cost of Remicade. See https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/pfizer-announces-medicare-reimbursement-inflectra-infliximab-dyyb-first-biosimilar-monoclonal-antibody-available-united-states.]
The Rheumatologist has published several articles about biosimilars. For more information, visit:
- https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/update-legislation-notification-rules-concerning-substitution-interchangeable-biologic-drugs
- https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/second-biosimilar-equivalent-adalimumab
- https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/adalimumab-atto-biosimilar-of-humira-receives-fda-approval
- https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/celltrion-accelerates-u-s-launch-infliximab-dyyb-remicade-biosimilar
- https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/potential-benefits-pitfalls-biosimilars-reviewed-eular-2016
- https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/patients-know-biosimilar-drugs
- https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/biosimilars-unanswered-questions
- https://www.the-rheumatologist.org/article/arthritis-patients-lack-knowledge-safe-use-biologics
Vanessa Caceres is a medical writer in Bradenton, Fla.
