Vivian Bykerk, MD, associate attending rheumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery, associate professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, discusses how cost affects patient access to biologic therapies.
Transcript:
Do you see cost playing a role in patient access to biologics?
Cost and access to biologics is an issue, but it’s maybe not an issue that the patient sees themselves because there are always ways to cover some of the copays. So yes, there’s a small cost, and there is a cost to using biologics. The payers have figured out how to fund them, and they figured out formulas that work for them on how to fund what, so each insurance company might fund different ones. In a way, access for patients to any given biologic is dictated by their particular insurance company. The cost is either being taken out by insurance companies, or it’s taken out by government, and that is becoming a challenge for payers, and I’m calling them all payers because they are costly. I think it’s important to note that the cost that’s advertised as the so-called, “real price,” is not what the payers are paying. So, it’s a little bit misleading to say that they are as expensive as they are because there’s no way that’s what people are paying for them.
Can Global Policies to Boost Biosimilar Adoption Work in the US?
November 17th 2024On this special episode of Not So Different honoring Global Biosimilars Week, Craig Burton, executive director of the Biosimilars Council, explores how global policies—from incentives to health equity strategies—could boost biosimilar adoption in the US.
Biosimilars in America: Overcoming Barriers and Maximizing Impact
July 21st 2024Join us as we explore the complexities of the US biosimilars market, discussing legislative influences, payer and provider adoption factors, and strategies to overcome industry challenges with expert insights from Kyle Noonan, PharmD, MS, value & access strategy manager at Cencora.
Q&A: Dr Kimberly Maxfield Explains How BsUFA III Will Advance the US Biosimilar Industry
December 20th 2023At AMCP Nexus, Kimberly Maxfield, PhD, pharmacologist at the FDA, delved into how the third reauthorization of the Biosimilar User Fee Act (BsUFA III) will shape the American biosimilar market and improve development efficiency over the next few years.
Breaking Barriers in Osteoporosis Care: New Denosumab Biosimilars Wyost, Jubbonti Approved
June 16th 2024In this episode, The Center for Biosimilars® delves into the FDA approval of the first denosumab biosimilars, Wyost and Jubbonti (denosumab-bbdz), and discuss their potential to revolutionize osteoporosis treatment with expert insights from 2 rheumatologists.