Economic Impact of Non-Medical Switching from Originator Biologics to Biosimilars: A Systematic Literature Review

Biologics are large complex molecules, or mixtures of molecules, that have revolutionized the treatment of many chronic diseases, including diabetes, hemophilia, hepatitis, cystic fibrosis, growth deficiency, several types of cancer and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease [1, 2]. In recent years, a number of biologics have reached the end of their market exclusivity; many biosimilars, biopharmaceutical drugs designed to have active properties similar to their reference biologics, have been developed or are under development [3]. Unlike generic versions of synthetic small-molecule drugs, biosimilars are not exact copies but only highly similar to the approved reference biologics (i.e., originator biologics) [3, 4]. This is due to the intrinsic manufacturing variability of biologics, which inevitably, for large biologic molecules, leads to a degree of structural differences between originator and biosimilar products [3, 4]. However, within an acceptable range of variations that have been clearly defined by regulatory agencies in the USA, Europe and other countries, a biosimilar is required to be highly similar to an originator biologic without functional consequences in terms of efficacy, safety, potency, pharmacokinetic parameters and immunogenicity [3, 4].

Biosimilars may be priced lower than the originator biologics because the research and development processes are typically shorter and less labor-intensive with more relaxed regulatory requirements [4]. In Europe, since the first biosimilar was approved in 2006 there have been over 40 biosimilars on the market [5]; depending on the type, biosimilars have been priced 25–70% less than their originators [4, 6]. In the US, discounts for biosimilars are generally smaller than the discounts for biosimilars in Europe [4, 7]. For instance, the first two biosimilars approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), filgrastim and infliximab, had a list price of only 15% lower than their originator biologics [3, 7]. Since then, other biosimilars have been launched to the US market at similar discounted rates, with the highest discount to date being 35% for an infliximab biosimilar [7, 8].

Non-medical switch (NMS) refers to switching a patient’s medication for reasons other than a patient’s health and safety. In the past, NMS of small-molecule drugs from branded to their generic versions resulted in significant cost savings for both patients and payers due to the lower drug prices of generic medications [9‐11]. However, the economic impact of an originator-to-biosimilar NMS is more complex given that the two drugs are not always identical, and a comparison based only on drug costs would not provide a full picture of the economic implications of NMS [4, 11, 12]. For instance, studies have identified costs associated with biosimilar NMS including costs of training physicians and nurses, pre-NMS planning (e.g., laboratory tests), post-NMS monitoring (e.g., laboratory tests or medical visits following dose adjustments or side effects) and NMS-related administrative procedures (e.g., prior authorization or new reimbursement procedures) [12, 13]. Specifically in the US, a combination of rebates and discounts that biologics manufacturers offer to payers and pharmacy benefits managers may result in comparable purchase prices for originators and biosimilars, effectively reducing or even eliminating the cost advantage of biosimilar NMS [4, 7, 12].

In light of the increasing number of biosimilars on the market and in development worldwide, consideration of the cost implication of biosimilar NMS is important [14]. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to assess and summarize the healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs reported for patients undergoing biosimilar NMS.

Seventeen studies reported real-world HRU or HRU-related costs (Table 2). Among them, three were national database studies (two in Denmark [16, 17] and one in Turkey [18]) and all of these three studies reported higher HRU and HRU-related costs after NMS than before NMS based on observed data. The Denmark study enrolled 769 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis and reported that patients on average had 5.4 outpatient visits in the 6 months before NMS and 5.7 outpatient visits after NMS from infliximab originator to biosimilar (p = 0.0003) [16]. An update of the Denmark study reported 39 more outpatient visits within 6 months after NMS in the same population. In addition, patients on average had more phone consultations (1.17 vs. 1.03, p = 0.03), patient guidance (0.49 vs. 0.35, p < 0.01), intravenous medication (0.11 vs. 0.03, p < 0.01), clinical investigation (0.47 vs. 0.31, p < 0.01), clinical control (2.26 vs. 2.08, p < 0.01) and observation (0.22 vs. 0.17, p < 0.01) within 6 months after switch though the immediate cost consequences of NMS were not substantial [17]. The Turkey study focused on costs and reported that inpatient costs were €9 per patient 1 year before NMS and €21 per patient per year after NMS (p = 0.313); outpatient costs were €58 per patient 1 year before NMS and €87 per patient per year after NMS (p < 0.01); pharmacy costs were €428 per patient 1 year before NMS and €474 per patient per year after NMS (p = 0.371); the total healthcare costs were €528 per patient 1 year before NMS and €647 per patient per year after NMS, an average increase of €119 (23%) per patient per year (p = 0.046) [18].

Thirteen medical center-based cohort studies reported post-NMS treatment costs or medical services (Table 2). Specifically, these studies reported more NMS consultations and outpatient visits [17, 19‐23], post-NMS visits or phone consultations for patients experiencing injection-site pain [24], post-NMS medication usage [17, 25, 26], post-NMS loss of response and emergency department visit [27], post-NMS surgery rate (11%) [28], post-NMS steroid use (13%) [28] and post-NMS biosimilar dose escalation (6–35.4%) [26, 29‐32]. Nine reported patients discontinued the biosimilar and switched back to the originator [24, 27, 29, 31, 33‐37]. In addition, semi-structured one-on-one interviews among staff members involved in an NMS of the originator etanercept to its biosimilar at four rheumatology centers in the UK reported that providers spent 320–1076 additional hours on the NMS process for 149–180 patients per center [38].

As more biosimilars are introduced into the market worldwide, biosimilar NMS uptake is expected to increase because of the perceived potential cost reduction from a discounted drug price. However, biosimilar medications are approved under the premise of biosimilarity rather than interchangeability. While continued efforts are made to evaluate clinical outcomes associated with biosimilar NMS (e.g., development of anti-drug antibody, immunogenic response in the context of immunosuppressant therapy), it has become increasingly important to understand the real-world economic impact of biosimilar NMS on HRU and costs from a holistic perspective beyond drug price.

Furthermore, the market pertaining to originator biologics and biosimilars is volatile under the current economic and political climate worldwide. The future of the relationship between originators and biosimilars may be reshaped for factors such as prices and accesses that are still evolving. To the extent possible, this systematic literature review focused on the economic impact such as HRU and costs related to biosimilar NMS over the past 10 years. The review of the economic implications of biosimilar NMS found more data on the anticipated post-NMS cost estimates than on the real-world observed post-NMS costs or HRU. There were also more simulation studies on NMS implications due to drug acquisition costs rather than providing costs estimates comprised of all health care services required during and after NMS. In fact, observed real-world HRU and/or HRU-related costs with a sufficient follow-up period were only reported in three studies using national registry databases. Because biosimilars are not identical copies of their originator biologics, drug price should not be the only determining factor when assessing the economic impact of NMS, unlike the case of small-molecule drug generics [42]. Long-term observations of all healthcare service needs during the post-NMS period could provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the economic impact of NMS. Although existing clinical trials demonstrated similar efficacy and safety of the approved biosimilars, variation exists when it comes to individual patients or specific medical conditions. Monitoring and trial-and-error adjustments are common for any medication switching (including those due to medical reasons such as loss of response). In the situation of NMS, some patients may respond differently to a biosimilar than its originator and potentially generate additional NMS-related costs. For example, after NMS, patients could require additional trial-and-error dosing adjustments and may necessitate additional laboratory tests or follow-up visits to monitor post-NMS status.

In addition, physicians, nurses, patients and healthcare administrators may need to be trained to educate patients on biosimilar NMS, offering support if NMS-related questions from these patients come up and following up with proper monitoring after the initiation of NMS; new administrative procedures may also need to be put in place to initiate, process and reimburse the biosimilar. All these activities are likely to generate additional costs due to biosimilar NMS. In two recent modeling studies, over a 3-month period, biosimilar NMS in patients with autoimmune diseases was estimated to increase healthcare costs for both payers and providers, mostly due to extra time needed during office visits and additional laboratory tests, procedures and follow-up visits [39, 41]. While additional monitoring and administrative costs may be partially absorbed by biosimilar manufacturers or healthcare providers, the cost amount may increase over time if a patient underwent more than one NMS because of lack of response, low treatment adherence or adverse events. As a result, in cases of multiple NMS, these seemingly one-time costs may become long-term costs that patients and payers need to bear, likely reducing the NMS cost reduction associated with the lower drug costs of biosimilars.

It is unclear whether rebates or patient support programs for biologic originators were accounted for when studies evaluated drug cost differences between biologic originators and biosimilars. According to one study identified during our literature review, rebates for some originators can already reach up to 50% of their list price, which could result in a similar or even lower price range of its biosimilar [43]. It is also uncertain whether savings to payers, because of the reduced drug price, may be translated to savings for patients if the biosimilar manufacturers do not offer or offer a less generous copayment assistance program.

Besides economic data, to assuage any concerns that patients and physicians may have, more real-world clinical data on the safety and effectiveness of biosimilars compared with their originator biologics are also needed for the short and long term and across indications. Debates on this topic remain. For instance, a recent systematic literature review of post-NMS clinical outcomes suggests that the risk of immunogenicity-related safety issues or diminished efficacy is similar before and after NMS based on a limited number of real-world studies pertaining to the safety of NMS [13]. On the contrary, concerns were raised for the lack of sufficient evidence to support the safety and efficacy of NMS at least for some biosimilars [42]. In the present review, we found that, among the limited real-world studies, after NMS, higher rates of surgery, concomitant medication use, biosimilar discontinuation, switch back to the originator biologic or switch to other biologics were reported. It should be noted that the results of this literature review are consistent with a recent assessment made by Husereau et al. [42] that existing data are insufficient for payers and health technology assessment (HTA) agencies to make decisions regarding biosimilar NMS.

The future concerning originators vs. biosimilars continues evolving and requires close monitoring of this dynamic field. With a focus on the economic impact such as HRU and costs over the past 10 years, this systematic literature review found that the overall economic impact of biosimilar NMS remains uncertain. Drug costs continue to be the sole focus of most modeling and medical center-based studies. Only three real-world database studies reported observed economic consequences of biosimilar NMS with two of them showing an increase in the HRU and costs associated with biosimilar NMS and one suggesting no immediate cost impact. More real-world studies that include both drug costs and other NMS-related medical and administrative costs are needed to quantify the full economic impact of NMS in both the short and long term. In particular, better understanding the upfront costs required to prepare patients and prescribers for biosimilar NMS to manage the expectations (e.g., patient education and support, trainings to healthcare professionals) can be important, which may help mitigate the potential consequences associated with biosimilar NMS. Collectively, this information would allow payers, physicians and policy makers to more comprehensively assess the implications of biosimilar NMS.