Pharmacy DailyPharmacy Daily | Sandoz calling for biosimilar policy reforms

SANDOZ, a global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, has released new whitepaper outlining a vision for improving healthcare sustainability in Australia, including how policy reforms could save the PBS up to $75 million per biosimilar therapy while significantly expanding patient access and reducing healthcare costs.

Despite the proven benefits of biosimilars, Australia's uptake for key biosimilar medicines used in autoimmune diseases remains at just 35%, compared to an OECD average of 67%, Sandoz pointed out.

Much if this is due to barriers facing patients, clinicians and pharmacists, including no difference in patients' out-of-pocket costs for biosimilars versus reference biologics; complex PBS administrative requirements for prescribers; and a lack of price incentives for prescribers to recommend biosimilars.

Meanwhile, an increase in chronic and complex diseases will likely result in increased use of biologics.

The whitepaper, Pioneering Access for Patients Through Biosimilar Medicines, is the outcome of a Canberra summit earlier this year (PD 12 Feb), where key stakeholders, such as patient advocacy groups, healthcare professionals and pharmacists, reached consensus on the need for modest, evidence-based reforms.

Sandoz has proposed four key policy reforms:

1. Lower patient co-payments, so they pay half-price for biosimilars;

2. Mandate biosimilars for patients newly starting biologics, unless there is good reason not to;

3. Reduce administrative burden for prescribers by reducing PBS Authority requirements and reducing paperwork;

4. Reinvest savings into a chronic disease future fund to support healthcare initiatives and workforce development.

"The Sandoz whitepaper marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing and collaborative efforts to pioneer healthcare access and affordability for patients across the country," said Chad Rieger, Head of Medical Affairs & Policy at Sandoz.

"By addressing the barriers to biosimilar uptake and proposing practical policy measures to improve access and alleviate the burden on the current system, we aim to create a more sustainable healthcare system that benefits patients, clinicians, and the government alike to create better health outcomes for all."

Read the whitepaper HERE.