Exploring patient experience of biosimilar insulin switches
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring patient perception and experience of biosimilar insulin switches
IRAS ID
361682
Contact name
Ben Hindley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool John Moores University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Biosimilar insulins provide a cost-effective alternative to their respective reference products (i.e., the original brand of that insulin). Because, by virtue of the UK medicines regulator's licensing process for biosimilar medicines, they are considered to be equivalent to their respective reference product and patients can be freely changed between them and expect no difference in the control of their condition. As a result of this, and considering the significant financial savings than can be made from switching patients, it is NHS England policy that patients should (1) be started on the biosimilars in preference to the reference products and (2) existing patients should be actively switched to biosimilars. Several integrated care boards (ICBs) have undertaken switch programmes.
There is ample published research which supports the switching of patients between reference insulins and biosimilars from a scientific viewpoint (i.e., showing that these drugs have the same effect), but very little published in terms of assessing stakeholder viewpoints. This is particularly important with respect to insulins given the differences in manufacturer's insulin delivery devices, the historic reticence about switching patients between different insulins and the fact that insulin is perceived to be a ‘specialist’ area where there is limited input from general practice. This is despite the fact that switching programmes are generally the responsibility of community (i.e., non-specialist) teams (with appropriate specialist guidance).
The broad aim of this study is to investigate the experiences and perceptions of patients of biosimilar insulin switches, including identifying levels of knowledge, acceptance, the preferred methods for switching patients and barriers to implementation.
Given the lack of published research in this area, it is hoped that this study will provide valuable insights into biosimilar insulin switches and inform similar future work across the NHS.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/PR/1322
Date of REC Opinion
3 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion