Effectiveness of implementing biosimilars within a UK tertiary hospital;
six-years follow up
Abstract
Health systems encourage switching from originators to biosimilars as
biosimilars are more cost-effective. The speed and completeness of
biosimilar adoption is a measure of efficiency. We describe the approach
to biosimilar adoption at a single hospital and compare its efficiency
against the English average. We additionally follow up patients who
reverted to a previously used biologic, having switched to a biosimilar,
to establish whether they benefitted from re-establishing prior
treatment. The approach we describe resulted in a faster and more
complete switch to biosimilars, which saved an additional £380,000 on
drug costs in 2021/22. Of patients who reverted to their original
biologic, 85% improved short-term where the concern was tolerability,
and 90% where it was efficacy. Patients remained on treatment for a
prolonged period after reverting. Our approach to biosimilar adoption
outperformed the English average and permits patients to revert to their
original biosimilar post-switch if appropriate.