The Most-Read Contributor Articles of 2018

There were a variety of developments in the biosimilars space in 2018, and our expert contributors responded to those changes with in-depth insights that reflected the complexity of the biosimilars landscape.

Here are the top 5 most-read contributor articles of the year:

5. Biosimilar Nonmedical Switching Must Never Undermine Patient Safety

Gregory Schimizzi, MD, co-convener of the Biologics Prescribers Collaborative and the cofounder of Carolina Arthritis Associates, PA, in Wilmington, North Carolina, wrote that nonmedical switching due to formulary changes by insurers and pharmacy benefit managers puts patient at risk for treatment failures, worsening disease activity, declining physical function, tissue damage, and increased complications. In his article, Schimizzi argued that any formulary-driven nonmedical switching program for biologics and biosimilars should include mandatory provisions for extensive and vigorous pharmacovigilance processes.

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4. Treating Biosimilars Equally With Brand Biologics in the Donut Hole

Brian Lehman, MBA, MHA, RPh, explained that the standard Medicare Part D benefit, specifically the coverage gap or “donut hole,” has a significant unintended consequence that results in higher out-of-pocket costs for biosimilars versus competing originator biologics. Last year, he explained, an enrollee would have paid 51% of the total cost for a biosimilar while only paying 40% of the total cost of a brand biologic while in the coverage gap. His article gives a deeper look at the reasons behind this surprising disparity.

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3. 340B Changes: What Biosimilar Manufacturers Need to Know

Prior to January 2018, 340B facilities treating Medicare beneficiaries were reimbursed at the average sales price (ASP) of the drug plus 6% (biosimilars at ASP plus 6% of the reference product’s ASP). However, the Medicare Part B Outpatient Prospective Payment System established a new rate for drugs billed by 340B facilities as of 2018 of ASP minus 22.5%. In her article, Amanda Forys, MSPH, a senior director at Xcenda, a part of Amerisource Bergen, explained that biosimilar developers need to use new thinking and develop multipronged strategies to make sure that their products can reach patients in the emerging landscape.

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2. Biosimilar Interchangeability: 9 Things to Consider

The topic of interchangeability has been at the forefront of many discussions about the future of US biosimilars, and in her article, Sonia T. Oskouei, PharmD, director of pharmacy program development for biosimilars at Premier, Inc, highlighted 9 key facts that must be kept in mind when discussing these interchangeable products.

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1. Assessing the Next Wave of Biosimilars

Now that the FDA has approved 15 biosimilars, it is time to look ahead to the next wave of biosimilar products. Consultants from ZS, a consulting firm that helps companies grow their market share, discussed the ways in which new market dynamics, new players, and new therapeutic areas, will impact the development of biosimilars in the years to come.

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