The review, which covers the period from 1 October to 31 December 2019, was produced by authors from the University of South Australia’s School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences; and was released on 10 March 2020.

The report provides an update to the comprehensive literature search previously conducted on behalf of Australia’s Department of Health. To inform activities related to the GBMA Education’s Biosimilar Education Grant, these reviews examine all international and Australian clinical, academic and policy journals in relation to biosimilars.

The reviews focus on four key topics:

• Comparability of biosimilars to originator biologicals (access and substitution)
• Uptake of biosimilars
• Pharmacovigilance (health outcomes and adverse events)
• Perceptions towards biosimilars

During this review period the authors identified 12 phase I and III studies, as well as six pharmacoeconomic studies that are related to the access and substitution of biosimilars. They identified eight studies covering infliximab, etanercept, rituximab, filgrastim and erythropoietin that contained information about the uptake of biosimilars. They also identified nine studies with information on health outcomes and adverse events and seven studies covering patient perceptions and one study covering the perceptions of healthcare professionals.

Conflict of interest
The authors of the research paper [1] did not provide any conflict of interest statement.

Editor’s comment
Readers interested to learn more about uptake, pharmacovigilance and perceptions of biosimilars are invited to visit www.gabi-journal.net to view the following manuscripts published in GaBI Journal:

Improving biosimilars uptake: experience gained in Madrid, Spain

Pharmacovigilance, traceability and building trust in biosimilar medicines

Effect of naming on pharmacists’ perceptions and dispensing of biosimilars

Readers interested in contributing a research or perspective paper to GaBI Journal – an independent, peer reviewed academic journal platform – please send us your submission here.

Related article
New biosimilar guide for pharmacists in Australia

Reference
1. Ward M, Lange SR, Staff K. International biosimilar medicines. Review of the literature: quarterly update: October – December 2019. School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia. 10 March 2020.

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