There is good news, and bad news, when it comes to what doctors think of biosimilars, according to new research by Quantia, a platform for physician engagement.
First, the good news -- 94% of physician respondents believe biosimilars will provide value to healthcare.
The bad news? Only 17% of prescribing specialists report they would be “very likely” to prescribe biosimilars to eligible patients.
You may be wondering why there is such a difference.
According to a Quantia press release the main concerns include safety/efficacy, drug substitution regulations, and accurate evaluation of when to prescribe a biosimilar vs. branded therapy.
“The survey findings confirm that many physicians already recognize the potential clinical value and cost savings that biosimilars represent, and many are hopeful that these therapies will soon be viable for their patient populations," said Dan Malloy, Executive Vice President of Quantia, in a press release. "The challenge is offering the education and support, through the appropriate channels, that will reach the physicians who need it most and transform this general awareness into action."
Leveraging its online community QuantiaMD, which includes more than 225,000 U.S. physicians, Quantia surveyed nearly 300 physicians on the topic of biosimilar therapies in March of 2015.
Survey respondents included Primary Care Physicians and Specialists in the therapeutic areas where biosimilars are currently most concentrated– such as endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, hematologists, oncologists, nephrologists, and rheumatologists.
