BSH 2017 | Raising awareness of the benefits of biosimilars in the UK

Steve Williamson, MRPharmS (IPresc) from Northumbria Healthcare Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK discusses the lack of awareness of biosimilars and the reluctance to utilize them and administer them to patients. Mr. Williamson believes it is crucial to educate clinicians of the benefits of using biosimilars as an alternative to originators, but it also important to educate patients who will be receiving the novel agents. It is important that they are aware that any reduction in costs for current cancer care will go towards purchasing the latest medicines and technologies, which further improves survival outcomes. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK has spoken in support of the use of biosimilars due to its therapeutic equivalence to originators, and the considerable reduction in cost. Mr. Williamson goes on to discuss the drug, rituximab, that has been on the market for years and has undergone various manufacturing changes that it is now classified as a biosimilar. This interview was recorded at the 2017 British Society for Haematology (BSH) Annual Scientific Meeting in Brighton, UK. This video has been supported by Napp Pharmaceuticals Ltd through an unrestricted educational grant to Magdalen Medical Publishing.