Scaled Integration of FDA-Approved Biosimilars

2021 Year in Review - Biosimilars - Biosimilars

A biosimilar adoption integration process that included full staff education, physician consent, and systematic auto-conversion proved to be feasible and scalable, and resulted in rapid conversion from reference product to FDA-approved biosimilar.

To bridge biosimilar knowledge and adoption gaps, a formalized biosimilar policy and standard operating procedure was developed to include full staff education, physician consent, and systematic auto-conversion from the reference biologic product to its approved biosimilar; the integration process was described at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

Baseline utilization data for rituximab, trastuzumab, and bevacizumab, as well as their biosimilars, was collected from July 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. Biosimilar conversion was initiated January 1, 2020. The following workflow changes were instituted: (1) mandatory biosimilar education of staff (physicians, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, nurses, financial navigators, and prior authorization team members) and patients was enforced and tracked using meeting attendance and the online e-learning system. Patient education was verified using established teaching visits by tracking documentation in the electronic health record. (2) Quantitative metrics and reports were developed to assist tracking of patients receiving the biosimilar or reference product. (3) Billed product units per month were also tracked to facilitate auditing.

During the baseline period (July 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019), biosimilar conversion (based on billed biosimilar units) was 0% for trastuzumab and 8.4% for rituximab. Following biosimilar conversion, conversion rates improved from 11.7% (baseline) to 90.2% (2021 Q1) for rituximab, from 8.4% to 87.4% for trastuzumab, and from 0% to 90.0% for bevacizumab.

Based on these results, the authors concluded that rapid and near-complete conversion from brand product to FDA-approved biosimilar is feasible, measurable, and can be scaled.

Source: Waterhouse DM, Burdette C, Davies D, et al. Scaled integration of FDA approved biosimilars: closing the knowledge and adoption gaps. J Clin Oncol. 2021;39(suppl_28):15.

Related Items
Adoption of Biosimilars—Why the Delay?
JHOP - June 2022 Vol 12, No 3 published on June 16, 2022 in Editorial, Biosimilars
Pharmacist-Driven Intervention Significantly Increases Biosimilar Adoption in Clinical Practice
JHOP - June 2022 Vol 12, No 3 published on June 16, 2022 in Biosimilars, Oncology Pharmacy Programs, ASCO Highlights
Comparing Single-Center Outcomes Between Reference and Biosimilar Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Drugs Used for Autologous Stem-Cell Mobilization
JHOP - June 2022 Vol 12, No 3 published on June 16, 2022 in Original Article, Biosimilars, Transplant
Oncologists’ Common Misconceptions About Biosimilars Revealed in a Recent Survey
JHOP - June 2022 Vol 12, No 3 published on June 16, 2022 in Biosimilars, ASCO Highlights
Comparative Efficacy and Safety of the Bevacizumab Biosimilar MIL60 versus Bevacizumab Reference in Patients with Advanced or Recurrent Nonsquamous NSCLC
2021 Year in Review - Biosimilars published on December 31, 2021 in Biosimilars
Same-Day Pegfilgrastim or PFG-cbqv Prophylaxis of Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia in Bendamustine plus Rituximab and CHOP±R Regimens in Patients with Lymphoma and CLL
2021 Year in Review - Biosimilars published on December 31, 2021 in Biosimilars
Same-Day Pegfilgrastim or Pegfilgrastim-cbqv Prophylaxis in miniCHOP Chemotherapy-Based Regimens for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
2021 Year in Review - Biosimilars published on December 31, 2021 in Biosimilars
Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treated with Bevacizumab-awwb in Real-World Oncology Clinics
2021 Year in Review - Biosimilars published on December 31, 2021 in Biosimilars
Impact of the Oncology Care Model on Use of Bone Supportive Medications, Antiemetics, and Growth Factors
2021 Year in Review - Biosimilars published on December 31, 2021 in Biosimilars
Cost-Efficiency Analysis of Conversion from Pegfilgrastim with On-Body Injector to Pegfilgrastim-jmdb to Provide Budget-Neutral Expanded Access to Prophylaxis and Treatment
2021 Year in Review - Biosimilars published on December 31, 2021 in Biosimilars
© Amplity Health. All rights reserved.

Subscribe Today!

To sign up for our newsletter or print publications, please enter your contact information below.

I'd like to receive: