Table 3.
Results of Questions 5–7 and comparison with the previous survey. In all comparisons p > 0.05.
| Question 5 | Current survey (n = 596) | Previous survey (n = 379) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The biosimilar will be less expensive than the reference drug, you think that (it is possible to choose more than one option): | (a) These are good news because more patients will be treated with biologics | 293 (49.2%) | 120 (31.3%) |
| (b) The cost of a treatment should not come before its effectiveness or safety/tolerance | 395 (66.3%) | 209 (54.6%) | |
| (c) This will help cost savings | 131 (22.0%) | 30 (7.8%) | |
| (d) You don’t think that a lower cost will change something | 52 (8.7%) | 20 (5.2%) | |
| Question 6 |
Current survey (n = 596) | Previous survey (n = 379) | |
| The biosimilar of REMICADE (infliximab) has been successfully developed and used for the treatment of rheumatologic diseases. On June 27, 2013, the biosimilar of REMICADE (infliximab) received positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of IBD by extrapolating data from rheumatoid arthritis (it is possible to choose more than one option): | (a) You think that it makes sense, because its efficacy and safety profile has been established for other chronic conditions than IBD | 126 (21.1%) | 50 (13.1%) |
| (b) You would prefer if it could be tested for inflammatory bowel diseases before extrapolating data from rheumatologic disorders | 335 (56.2%) | 116 (30.3%) | |
| (c) You trust the decisions made by regulatory agencies and you are not awaiting for data in IBD | 56 (9.4%) | 13 (3.4%) | |
| (d) You trust your treating physician who will make the decision to use biosimilars in your treatment | 568 (45.0%) | 104 (27.2%) | |
| (e) You trust your pharmacist to make the decision to use biosimilars in your treatment | 14 (2.4%) | 3 (0.8%) | |
| (f) You are waiting for more data in IBD before accepting to receive a biosimilar for either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis | 202 (33.9%) | 93 (24.3%) | |
| Question 7 |
Current survey (n = 596) | Previous survey (n = 378) | |
| Now that biosimilars are coming to the market, you think (it is possible to choose more than one option): | (a) That patient associations should be informed and should be able to give their opinion | 371 (62.3%) | 96 (25.1%) |
| (b) That patients should systematically be given information | 467 (78.4%) | 164 (42.8%) | |
| (c) That we should wait for many patients to receive biosimilars in a real life setting before recommending its use in a large population of IBD patients | 254 (42.6%) | 87 (22.7%) | |
| (d) We should know in which country the drug has been tested/created before using it in your own country | 205 (34.4%) | 31 (8.1%) | |