German physicians not pressured to switch to biosimilar infliximab

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German physicians not pressured to switch to biosimilar infliximab

INICIO/Informes | Posted 02/10/2015 0 Post your comment

Rheumatologists and gastroenterologists in Germany are not being put under pressure to switch patients from Remicade (infliximab) to biosimilar infliximab, according to a new report from research and advisory firm Decision Resources.

The report, entitled LaunchTrends: Inflectra/Remsima (Germany), finds that the majority of German patients receiving an infliximab biosimilar were biological-naïve and would have received Remicade or another biological if they had not received a biosimilar. At three months post launch of infliximab biosimilars (Inflectra/Remsima), less than one-quarter of respondents had experienced any pressure from healthcare authorities to switch patients currently treated with Remicade to an infliximab biosimilar.

In a previous study, it was found that the majority of surveyed rheumatologists in France, Germany and the US expect to prescribe biosimilar infliximab within one year of launch if the biosimilar is priced at a net discount of 15–30% to Remicade and has demonstrated similar efficacy in clinical trials.

The current report found that almost half of surveyed German gastroenterologists and 37% of rheumatologists consider themselves to be familiar with biosimilars. However, somewhat worryingly, less than one-third of these physicians are aware that Inflectra and Remsima have been approved for the same indications as Remicade. The report also found that over 40% of surveyed rheumatologists and gastroenterologists have prescribed at least one of the biosimilars to one or more of their patients.

Germany has one of the highest market shares of biosimilars in Europe [1]. Although in Germany, pharmacists may substitute a biosimilar as part of the ‘Aut-idem-Regelung’ [2], a number of EU Member States have gone far to ban this practice.

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References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars use in Europe [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2015 Oct 2]. Available from: http://www.gabionline.net/Reports/Biosimilars-use-in-Europe
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Germany’s rational use of medicines [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2015 Oct 2]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Reports/Germany-s-rational-use-of-medicines

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