Patient & Prescriber views on switching from a biologic to biosimilar
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development of a process from switching from a biologic to a biosimilar which is acceptable to both patients and prescribers.
IRAS ID
199526
Contact name
Denise Rosembert
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
V1 31/03/16, Development of an acceptable patient pathway to enable switching from a Biologic to a Biosimilar, for both patients and prescribers.
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 26 days
Research summary
The process of research, discovery and manufacture of a biological medicine is expensive; this contributes to the high contract prices which NHS hospitals pay to use these therapies. In 2014/2015, the annual spend on biologics at Cambridge University Hospital was approximately £7.5 million, accounting for 10% of the Trusts overall drugs budget. The proportion of expenditure on biologics in the United Kingdom is reported to be 23% of all medication.
The expiration of patents of these medications means that more pharmaceutical companies can begin to make a similar medication and sell at a more competitive price. These conditions are serious and chronic, and unlike generic medicines, these medicines are made from living biological cells, so cannot be exact copies. Recommendations include not to automatically switch patients with out discussion with the prescriber and patients, the reason for this research is to conduct two patient focus groups to understand how to approach this processes to ensure an effective and informed process for switching patients. The outcomes from this will be presented to the consultants and inform the process of going about the switch.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0212
Date of REC Opinion
31 May 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion