232 Clinical outcomes of a multi-disciplinary switching programme to biosimilar etanercept for patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Background: Biosimilar etanercept, benepali offers the potential for large drug acquisition cost savings and is licenced in the UK for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There is limited published data on switching patients with rheumatoid arthritis from originator product to biosimilar etanercept with regards to clinical efficacy, tolerability and safety. This study aimed to compare these above parameters as well as report patient perspectives of switching to the biosimilar. Methods: This was a prospective study of a managed programme where patients were offered an education session, and attended a dedicated biosimilar switching clinic staffed by a rheumatology consultant, registrar and specialist pharmacist pre-switch and four months post-switching. In both the pre- and post-switch assessments a disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS-28) was calculated and each patient completed a health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and an 11-part biosimilars questionnaire which asked about tolerability and adverse effects of the biosimilar.