New Cardinal Health research highlights rheumatologists' increasing confidence in biosimilars

Rhea-AI Summary

Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) unveiled the third edition of Rheumatology Insights, revealing a significant rise in rheumatologists' familiarity with biosimilars, increasing from 53% in 2020 to 76% in 2022. Comfort in prescribing these medications also grew from 41% to 62%. The report indicates a heightened readiness for new biosimilars anticipated in 2023, particularly for adalimumab, a key product. Additionally, the report addresses health inequities in rheumatology, with 85% of rheumatologists acknowledging their existence and 58% noting worsened mental health in patients since COVID-19.

Positive

• 76% of rheumatologists are very familiar with biosimilars, up from 53% in 2020.
• 62% of rheumatologists are very comfortable prescribing biosimilars, an increase from 41% in 2020.
• 85% of rheumatologists express confidence in prescribing adalimumab biosimilars.

Negative

• Only 58% of rheumatologists reported their patients' mental health has worsened since the pandemic.

DUBLIN, Ohio, Oct. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Cardinal Health (NYSE: CAH) released its third edition of Rheumatology Insights, a research report based on surveys with more than 100 rheumatologists nationwide that focuses on key trends impacting one of the fastest-growing areas of specialty medicine.

The research revealed that rheumatologists are both more familiar with biosimilars and more comfortable prescribing them than they were in 2020, just in time for a wave of new biosimilars anticipated to hit the market in 2023. Biosimilars are medications that are highly similar to Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved biologics, the fastest growing class of drugs in the U.S. They provide the same treatment benefits as their original biologics, called reference products, but are offered at lower costs and therefore expected to deliver meaningful cost savings to the healthcare system.

Biosimilars have been available in the rheumatology space since 2016, but their adoption has progressed much slower compared to other specialties. According to Cardinal Health's research, 76% of rheumatologists are "very familiar" with biosimilars, up from 53% in the 2020 report, and 62% are "very comfortable" prescribing biosimilars, compared to 41% in the 2020 report.

Confidence in biosimilars has increased in some of the most widely-used medications. The research shows 85% of rheumatologists are comfortable prescribing an adalimumab biosimilar once it is available, which is a biosimilar referencing one of the top selling pharmaceuticals in the world – HUMIRA®.¹ With new therapies and increasing clinical confidence in biosimilars, rheumatologists will have more treatment options than ever, requiring additional considerations associated with product selection and patient experiences.

"The promise of biosimilars rests on the twin pillars of affordability and accessibility. Through increased competition for some of the costliest and critical treatment options, biosimilars are positioned to deliver meaningful savings across multiple stakeholders – healthcare institutions, the overall healthcare delivery system and most importantly, patients," said Sonia Oskouei, PharmD, BCMS, DPLA, Vice President of Biosimilars at Cardinal Health. "However, this is only possible with the right healthcare delivery model and aligned incentives to ensure the value of these products are maximized. With so many biosimilars for HUMIRA® (adalimumab) expected to launch beginning in 2023, our research suggests that these therapies will make quite an impact on the overall treatment paradigm for patients with rheumatic conditions."

In addition to biosimiliars, the 2022 Rheumatology Insights report also explores rheumatologists' perspectives on health inequities and navigating a rapidly changing industry:

• Nearly 85% of rheumatologists agree that health inequities exist across healthcare, and 60% say health inequities are especially prevalent in rheumatology.
• Two and a half years into the pandemic, 58% of rheumatologists said their patients' mental health is worse than when COVID-19 began.

About the survey 
The findings in Rheumatology Insights are based on web-based surveys conducted in July and August 2022. More than 100 rheumatologists from both community- and hospital-based practices participated in the research. The report also includes viewpoints from Gordon K. Lam, MD, FACR, Medical Director of Clinical Research at Arthritis and Osteoporosis Consultants of the Carolinas, Amar Q. Majjhoo, MD, FACR, Director of Clinical Research at Shores Rheumatology PC, Sonia Oskouei, PharmD, BCMS, DPLA, Vice President, Biosimilars at Cardinal Health and Devray Kirkland, Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Cardinal Health.

About Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health is a distributor of pharmaceuticals, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical and laboratory products, and a provider of performance and data solutions for health care facilities. With more than 50 years in business, operations in more than 30 countries and approximately 46,500 employees globally, Cardinal Health is essential to care. Information about Cardinal Health is available at cardinalhealth.com.

Contacts
Media: To request a copy of the report, please contact Amy Shirer, amy.shirer@cardinalhealth.com.

 

¹ HUMIRA® is a registered trademark of AbbVie.

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SOURCE Cardinal Health

FAQ

What is the main finding of Cardinal Health's Rheumatology Insights report released on October 19, 2022?

The report shows a significant increase in rheumatologists' familiarity and comfort with biosimilars, especially with new therapies expected in 2023.

How many rheumatologists participated in the 2022 Rheumatology Insights survey?

More than 100 rheumatologists participated in the survey conducted in July and August 2022.

What percentage of rheumatologists are comfortable prescribing adalimumab biosimilars according to the report?

85% of rheumatologists reported they are comfortable prescribing adalimumab biosimilars.

What are the implications of the increased confidence in biosimilars for patients?

The increased confidence may lead to greater access to affordable treatment options and improved patient care in rheumatic conditions.

Did the report discuss any health inequities observed by rheumatologists?

Yes, nearly 85% of rheumatologists believe health inequities exist in healthcare, particularly in rheumatology.