Research shows good understanding of biosimilars amongst pharmacists but concerns surrounding switching patien

The results of a web-based survey of 26 pharmacists, 58 nurses and 150 medical consultants specialising in diabetes, dermatology, rheumatology or gastroenterology has highlighted that 84.8% of the pharmacists had a good understanding of infliximab and insulin glargine biosimilars and could accurately define them, whereas only 76.6% of consultants and 53.4% of nurses had the same knowledge and experience. However, whilst the pharmacists demonstrated the greatest knowledge of biosimilars amongst the healthcare professionals surveyed, they also shared the concerns of the other healthcare professionals in terms of the safety and efficacy of switching patients to them. The survey also highlighted that nurses were more worried than the pharmacists and the consultants about the safety and efficacy of biosimilars when initiating them in biologic-naive patients.

The researchers said: “There is a variance in the level of understanding and attitude to biosimilars between professions, with a good level of understanding in medical consultants and pharmacists, but a lower level for nurses.”