Background/Purpose: Patients are frequently transitioned to biosimilars to reduce the cost burden of biologics. Brand changes can be daunting for patients who have concerns about biosimilar safety, quality, and anticipate a loss of disease control. Therefore, it is crucial to optimize the transition process for patients. To date, patients’ experiences with the transition process have not been explored in detail. This study examined rheumatology patients’ experiences of a mandatory nationwide brand change to an adalimumab biosimilar.

Methods: People with rheumatic diseases involved in the adalimumab biosimilar brand change in Aotearoa New Zealand were invited to take part in a nationwide online survey. The transition occurred between March and September 2022 and was expected to enable 380 new patients to receive access to adalimumab. Patients were recruited through patient organizations, a rheumatology clinic, and social media support groups between November 2022 and May 2023. Participants reported their satisfaction with the biosimilar, logistics and supply, information and communication, and availability of support, on a 0-10 scale, with 10 indicating high satisfaction. Open-ended questions explored what did and did not go well during the transition.

Results: The sample consisted of 117 participants (48% with rheumatoid arthritis). The mean [SD] overall satisfaction with the transition was 6.2 [3.2]. Participants were least satisfied with the patient support program (mean [SD] 3.4 [3.3]), support (3.4 [3.5]) and information (3.5 [3.2]) received from patient organizations, and training for the biosimilar device (4.9 [3.8]) during the transition period. Participants were the most satisfied with the ongoing supply of the biosimilar during the transition (8.5 [2.2]), the support received from pharmacists (7.5 [2.9]), and how early they were informed before the transition occurred (6.9 [2.8]). After the transition, participants were less satisfied with the quality of the device, and biosimilar safety, efficacy, and the provision of alcohol wipes and sharps bins (p < 0.05 for all). Participants appreciated the citrate-free preservative (less injection pain) and the ease of the device. The lack of alcohol wipes and loss of the bio-originator patient support program were viewed negatively.

Conclusion: Patients reported mixed experiences with the mandatory adalimumab biosimilar transition. Future transitions should ensure the availability of alcohol wipes, sharps bins and a patient support program. Patient support organizations could also assist patients by providing information about the biosimilar and training for the new device.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/rheumatology-patients-experiences-of-a-nationwide-transition-to-an-adalimumab-biosimilar-a-cross-sectional-study/