Probing biosimilar-related concerns and practices among community pharmacists
Main Article Content
Keywords
biosimilar, pharmacist, concerns, practice, facilitator, utilization
Abstract
Background: The successful integration of biosimilars into routine clinical practice depends on their acceptance. Given the vital role of community pharmacists in medication management, it is essential to understand their concerns and practices related to biosimilars, which was the objective of the present study. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a research pharmacist distributed in person a validated self-administered survey to community pharmacists across various geographical areas of the UAE. The survey included four sections that evaluated sociodemographic and work-related characteristics, pharmacists’ concerns and extent of biosimilar utilization, and the factors facilitating its adoption in the community pharmacy settings. Results: Out of 472 pharmacists, 415 (87.9%) were familiar with biosimilar efficacy and safety. Most of the study pharmacists were females (53%), and had a median [interquartile range (IQR)] age of 35 (30-41) years. The median (IQR) score for biosimilar-related concern was 21 (20-24) out of a possible score of 32, demonstrating a room for improvement. Most of the pharmacists expressed moderate-to-high concerns. The perceived acceptance of biosimilars by the patients and the prescribers represented the highest concern among the study pharmacists (30.6%). The median (IQR) of biosimilar-related practice score was 25 (23-27) out of 40, showing a window for practice improvement. More than half of the pharmacists did not often perform the essential biosimilar-related practices. The most frequently reported factors to facilitate biosimilar adoption in clinical practice were providing information on the clinical benefits of the biosimilars for prescribers and patients (48.30%), providing education on biosimilar use (44.70%), and establishing guidance on interchangeability or possibility of switching (43.60%). Conclusion: Pharmacists in the present study demonstrated concerns and inadequate adherence to practices concerning biosimilar therapy. Targeted educational interventions highlighting the benefits, effectiveness, safety and proper administration of biosimilar therapy are essential to address these concerns and facilitate the integration of biosimilars into routine clinical care.
References
safety. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2024 Feb 28;1–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/14712598.2024.2324123
2. Jarab AS, Abu Heshmeh SR, Al Meslamani AZ. Biosimilars as antivirals: opportunities and challenges. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2024 May 3;22(5):273–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/14787210.2024.2313064
3. Nowicki M. Basic Facts about Biosimilars. Kidney Blood Press Res. 2007;30(5):267–72. https://doi.org/10.1159/000105133
4. Kumar R, Singh J. Biosimilar drugs: Current status. Int J Appl Basic Med Res. 2014;4(2):63–6. https://doi.org/10.4103/2229-516X.136774
5. NHS England » Biosimilar medicines [Internet]. [cited 2023 Sep 14]. Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines-2/ biosimilar-medicines
6. Alkhatib NS, Halloush S, Abraham I. The status and preparation for the next decade of biosimilars in the Middle Eastern and
North African region. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2023 Aug 3;23(8):671–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/14712598.2023.2241346
7. Biosimilars [Internet]. FDA. 2023 [cited 2023 Sep 14]. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/therapeutic-biologicsapplications-
bla/biosimilars
8. Fernandez M. Global Biosimilars Market Poised to Grow at Chart-topping Levels with a CAGR of 17.3%, Reaching $79.2 Billion
by 2026 [Internet]. Frost & Sullivan. 2020 [cited 2024 Jun 4]. Available from: https://www.frost.com/news/press-releases/
global-biosimilars-market-poised-to-grow-at-chart-topping-levels-with-a-cagr-of-17-3-reaching-79-2-billion-by-2026
9. Kanavos P, Tzouma V, Fontrier AM, Kamphuis B, Parkin GC, Saleh S. Pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement in the Middle
East and North Africa region. A mapping of the current landscape and options for the future [Internet]. LSE. 2018 [cited
2024 Jun 4]. Available from: https://www.lse.ac.uk/business/consulting/assets/documents/pharmaceutical-pricing-andreimbursement-
in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa-region.pdf
10. Patel C. UAE Biosimilars Market Analysis [Internet]. insights10. 2023 [cited 2024 May 28]. Available from: https://www.
insights10.com/report/uae-biosimilars-market-analysis
11. Weise M, Bielsky MC, De Smet K, Ehmann F, Ekman N, Giezen TJ, et al. Biosimilars: what clinicians should know. Blood. 2012
Dec 20;120(26):5111–7. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2012-04-425744
12. Yoo DH. The rise of biosimilars: potential benefits and drawbacks in rheumatoid arthritis. Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2014 Aug
25;10(8):981–3. https://doi.org/10.1586/1744666X.2014.932690
13. Terrie YC. Fostering the Adoption of Biosimilars Into Clinical Practice. US Pharm. 2023 Jun 16;48(6):36–41.
14. Gasteiger C, Gasteiger N, Petrie KJ. Pharmacists’ confidence in explaining biosimilars to patients before a nationwide medicine
change: A cross-sectional study. Explor Res Clin Soc Pharm. 2022 Dec;8:100199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcsop.2022.100199
15. WHO. Updates on biosimilars. Member State Meeting [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2024 May 30]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/gb/MSPI/pdf_files/2022/12/Item1_01-12.pdf
16. Krejcie R V, Morgan D. Determining Sample Size For Research Activities. Educ Psychol Meas. 1970;30(3):607–10. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308
17. Stevenson JG, McCabe D, McGrath M, McBride A. Pharmacist biosimilar survey reveals knowledge gaps. J Am Pharm Assoc.
2023 Mar;63(2):529–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2022.11.001
18. Oqal M, Hijazi B, Alqudah A, Al-Smadi A, A Almomani B, Alnajjar R, et al. Awareness and Knowledge of Pharmacists toward
Biosimilar Medicines: A Survey in Jordan. Int J Clin Pract. 2022 Jun 27;2022:8080308. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8080308
19. Aladul MI, Fitzpatrick RW, Chapman SR. Differences in UK healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitude and practice towards
infliximab and insulin glargine biosimilars. Int J Pharm Pract. 2019 Mar 12;27(2):214–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpp.12485
20. Hobbs AL, Crawford JP. Biosimilars and implications for pharmacy practice: Ready or not, here they come! Pharm Pract
(Granada). 2019 Sep 30;17(3):1659. https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2019.3.1659
21. Shakeel S, Hassali MA, Rehman H, Rehman AU, Muneswarao J. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards Biosimilars and
Interchangeable Products: A Prescriptive Insight by the Pharmacists. Int J Gen Med. 2020 Nov;13:1075–82. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S266545
22. Agrawal M, Mishra S, Nayak G, Aggarwal D, Joshi U. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Biologicals and Biosimilars among
Clinicians in Radiotherapy Department. J Pharm Care. 2023;11(2):82–92. https://doi.org/10.18502/jpc.v11i2.13363
23. Hu Y, Song Z, Jiang D, Zhuo L, Cheng Y, Zhao R. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of Healthcare Providers, Healthcare Regulatory
Practitioners and Patients Toward Biosimilars in China: Insights From a Nationwide Survey. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Jun 2;13.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.876503
24. Marín-Jiménez I, Carrascosa JM, Guigini MA, Monte-Boquet E. Knowledge, perceptions, attitude, barriers and facilitators of
biosimilars use across specialty physicians and hospital pharmacists: A national survey. Farm Hosp. 2021;45(5):240–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.7399/fh.11662
25. Aladul MI, Fitzpatrick RW, Chapman SR. Healthcare professionals’ perceptions and perspectives on biosimilar medicines and
the barriers and facilitators to their prescribing in UK: a qualitative study. BMJ Open. 2018 Nov 18;8(11):e023603. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023603
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.