Biosimilars | Current Treatment | US/EU | 2017

There have been significant economic benefits in Europe since the approval of the first biosimilar more than a decade ago. Although the first FDA biosimilar approval was in 2015, biosimilars are gaining traction in the United States and their success is expected to mirror that in Europe. However, for biosimilars to achieve and maintain a strong position in the major markets, it is imperative for them to attain the trust of physicians; elucidating their decision-making process is therefore, likely to be an important factor in our analysis of biosimilar uptake. Decision Resources Group conducted primary market research in the United States, France, and Germany with physicians across six different specialties to obtain insight into their experiences, attitudes, and perceptions of biosimilars. In this report, we examine how physicians’ experiences and attitudes compare across specialties and countries and how they have evolved over time.

Questions Answered in This Report: 

• Understand surveyed physicians’ current level of experience and familiarity with biosimilars. How has familiarity with biosimilars progressed over time in France, Germany, and the United States? What are physicians’ opinions on indication extrapolation, and how do these attitudes vary by country and specialty? Are physicians familiar with the pharmacy-level substitution rules in their respective countries?
• Understand the drivers and barriers of biosimilar use among physicians from different specialties. According to physicians, which factors will stimulate uptake of biosimilars, and how do these factors vary by country? What are physicians’ concerns about using biosimilars, and how do they vary by specialty? Which companies do physicians trust most as manufacturers of biosimilars?
• Understand how examining physicians’ attitudes can help decipher the likely use of biosimilars in the future. How will physicians adopt biosimilars initially, and how will uptake vary by specialty? How will physicians choose among multiple biosimilars of the same reference product? Do physicians expect to use new, higher-cost biologics once biosimilars are available?

Scope

Markets covered: United States, France, and Germany.

Primary research: Online quantitative survey of 550 physicians across six specialties, namely endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, nephrologists, rheumatologists, and hematology and medical oncologists.