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DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERVENTION PLAN FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF BIOSIMILAR DRUGS IN A THIRD LEVEL HOSPITAL

European Statement

Selection, Procurement and Distribution

Author(s)

LEONOR GOMEZ-SAYAGO, INMACULADA LOMARES MANZANO, LUCIA JIMENEZ PICHARDO

Why was it done?

Biosimilar medicines have demonstrated their bioequivalence with the original biologic and there is ample scientific evidence to support this.
Our Hospital had a degree of implementation of biosimilars of 8,16% (the lowest in its autonomous community), so it was decided to develop an intervention plan to increase the use of biosimilars and improve this indicator.

What was done?

Develop a plan to increase the use of biosimilar medicines in a tertiary hospital.

How was it done?

It was decided to intervene on these drugs that had commercialized biosimilar drugs: etanercept, adalimumab, trastuzumab, bevacizumab, enoxaparin, epoetin. For the introduction of biosimilars of etanercept and adalimumab, the medical records of all patients with these prescriptions were reviewed and all those that were prescribed by active ingredient and not by brand-name drug, were changed to a biosimilar medication after consensus with the patients. For the new prescriptions of these drugs and of enoxaparin, trastuzumab, and bevacizumab, a document was prepared supported by the medical direction of our Hospital that would start with biosimilar molecules. Regarding epoetin, in our hospital we had epoetin beta that does not have a biosimilar, so it was decided, agreeing with oncology and hematology and based on the evidence, to change the molecule to epoetin alfa with its biosimilar medicine.
The degree of introduction of biosimilars was measured with the formula: nº Definid daily dose of biosimilar drugs dispensed/nº Definid daily dose of biosimilar drugs dispensed+Definid daily dose of the original biologic *100.

What has been achieved?

Before the implementation of the protocol for the introduction of biosimilars, the degree of introduction was 8,16%, 3 months after implementation the result had reached 21,10% and at 6 months it was 30%. This represents an economic impact of 286.295,53 € per year in savings.

What next?

The implementation of protocols agreed with the prescribers for the introduction of biosimilars should be a common practice of the hospital pharmacists to contribute to the sustainability of the health system.

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