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I call him Boy George
Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
- Thread starter somarco
- Start date
Sedona, thank you BCBSTX!!!
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- #53
No I understand that. But as we all know, some people just don't respond well to "generic" medications. That's why I mentioned the efficacy.
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- #55
True, but a biosimilar is closer to the "brand" than any generic.
And if it isn't right for them they can switch back.
Many studies have looked at the safety of switching to a biosimilar from a reference drug. None have found any differences in safety, efficacy or the ability of a drug to trigger an unwanted immune response. The same holds true for studies focused specifically on adalimumab. A 2022 review of 21 studies involving nearly 3,000 patients found no difference in safety or effectiveness when switching from Humira to eight different biosimilars.
New Competition for Humira | Arthritis Foundation
Many people with inflammatory arthritis rely on the blockbuster drug Humira. New biosimilar drugs coming on the market will give them more options.
www.arthritis.org
More information in that article including patient reluctance to switching.
True, but a biosimilar is closer to the "brand" than any generic.
And if it isn't right for them they can switch back.
Many studies have looked at the safety of switching to a biosimilar from a reference drug. None have found any differences in safety, efficacy or the ability of a drug to trigger an unwanted immune response. The same holds true for studies focused specifically on adalimumab. A 2022 review of 21 studies involving nearly 3,000 patients found no difference in safety or effectiveness when switching from Humira to eight different biosimilars.
New Competition for Humira | Arthritis Foundation
Many people with inflammatory arthritis rely on the blockbuster drug Humira. New biosimilar drugs coming on the market will give them more options.www.arthritis.org
More information in that article including patient reluctance to switching.
While anecdotal, I've read posts from people who switched from Humira to a biosimilar and had flare ups from their conditions come back. What can never be proven is whether it was a result of the switch or not.
I'm not happy with the wording in the rule. "Automatic switching at the pharmacy". And its not like these people aren't sick. These are last resort drugs when nothing else had helped an autoimmune disease. That's why I wanted the list of approved biosimilars (Thanks, Somarco!), so I can get out in front of it with clients.
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- #58
I didn't think that was allowed with biologics/biosimilars.
When a drug is approved by the FDA, it may seem like it's only a matter of time before some unexpected side effects are discovered. Perhaps it seems that way because it's true! A 2017 study of drugs approved within a 10-year period found that the FDA announced alerts, warnings, or recalls on about one-third of them in the years after their approval.
Some of the side effects were minor and easily managed. For example, there might be a warning to avoid taking a new medication at the same time as another medication. But sometimes the "side effect" is death. That was the case when the FDA issued a warning about the gout drug febuxostat (Uloric) in 2019.
The trouble with new drugs - Harvard Health
After a drug is approved by the FDA, unexpected safety problems may be discovered. Depending on the level of concern, different safety warnings may be issued –– including a black...
www.health.harvard.edu
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