The Majority of Surveyed US and European Physicians Believe Automatic Substitution of Biosimilars is a Bad Idea, or is Only Appropriate for Certain Drug Classes

Significantly More German Physicians Believe Automatic Substitution is an Overall Bad Idea Compared with Their French and US Colleagues

EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioTrends Research Group, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for specialized biopharmaceutical issues, finds that surveyed specialist physicians from the United States and Europe are generally opposed to pharmacy-level automatic substitution of branded biologics for biosimilars. More than half of all surveyed specialists (rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, nephrologists, medical oncologists and hematologist-oncologists) say that automatic substitution is either an overall bad idea or they believe that it is only appropriate for specific biologic drug classes. According to primary research findings from the Biosimilars Advisory Service: Acceptance of Biosimilars Across Physician Specialties, a significantly greater proportion of German physicians believe that automatic substitution is an overall bad idea compared with surveyed physicians in France and the United States.

“Our quantitative research also highlights significant differences in physicians’ perception of automatic substitution of biosimilars for brands with respect to specialty”

“Our quantitative research also highlights significant differences in physicians’ perception of automatic substitution of biosimilars for brands with respect to specialty,” said Biosimilars Advisory Service Director Andrew Merron, Ph.D. “Looking across all specialties, physicians are most likely to believe that insulins are appropriate for automatic substitution, although opinions on which biologic drugs are appropriate significantly differ by specialty. Despite differences that exist by geography and specialty, approximately one quarter of all physicians believe that no biologics are appropriate for substitution which is a significantly greater proportion compared with those that believe all biologics are appropriate.”

Apart from opinions on automatic substitution, surveyed specialist physicians (n=549) were questioned on many other topics which are pivotal to understanding the current and future uptake of biosimilars, including their level of familiarity with biosimilars, concerns about biosimilars, drivers and constrainers of adoption, views on indication extrapolation, attitudes towards reimbursement, the expected impact of ‘biobetters’ and the clinical trial requirements for biosimilars.

These findings are from the Biosimilars Advisory Service, which provides insight and analysis which is vital to successful business planning in the rapidly evolving biosimilars space. The service includes quarterly webinars detailing major developments, analyst insight addressing key market changes and opportunities, therapeutic area-specific primary research and forecasting modules.

Upcoming Webinar

Members of the media are welcome to attend our upcoming webinar entitled Physician Perceptions and Market Implications of Automatic Substitution of Branded Biologics for Biosimilars Across Various Specialties. This webinar will be held on Friday, September 14 at 10 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time. For more information, please contact Christopher Comfort at [e-mail].

About BioTrends Research Group

BioTrends Research Group provides syndicated and custom market research to pharmaceutical manufacturers competing in clinically evolving, specialty pharmaceutical markets. For information on BioTrends publications and research capabilities, please contact us at [phone] or www.bio-trends.com. BioTrends is a Decision Resources Group company.

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