A new report from Cardinal Health outlined the extent to which adalimumab biosimilars might impact the treatment of patients for specialists within the practices of dermatology, rheumatology, and gastroenterology in 2023, according to a summary published by The Center for Biosimilars. In the new 2023 Biosimilars Report, researchers asked 350 health-care providers to complete a survey and found that familiarity with biosimilars continues to rise—with 76% of rheumatologists, 81% of gastroenterologists, and 31% of dermatologists stating they were very familiar with the agents. While rheumatologists were willing to prescribe biosimilars to new patients and 40% of gastroenterologists expressed enthusiasm in prescribing biosimilars to any patients, especially if the medication was discounted, 20% of dermatologists noted that they were unwilling to prescribe biosimilars to any patients regardless of the discounted price. When asked about their main hesitation to prescribe biosimilars, dermatologists and rheumatologists cited safety and efficacy concerns at 70% and 68%, respectively, and 44% of gastroenterologists cited concerns over switching their patients from biologics to biosimilars.
Additionally, the report detailed the potential benefits that biosimilars may offer patients—including lower costs for critical medications—and that up to 10 new adalimumab biosimilars are expected to become available in 2023. The researchers hope their study will encourage more education initiatives designed to enhance familiarity with the agents and inspire greater clinical confidence for rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, and dermatologists in prescribing biosimilars. “In order to deliver on the promise of these drugs from a health equity standpoint, we must continue to analyze prescriber awareness and familiarity … and what other factors are moving the industry forward—from business and financial decisions to provider adoption,” emphasized Bruce Feinberg, DO, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Cardinal Health, in a companion statement.