Bruce Feinberg, DO: Differences Among Specialties in Biosimilar Uptake

Cardinal Health surveyed over 350 providers spanning rheumatology, dermatology, gastroenterology, and ophthalmology to better understand the changing landscape of the industry and the market shifts that are continuing to occur given the expansion of biosimilars. Results were compiled in the Cardinal Health 2023 Biosimilars Report, published earlier this year.

In an interview with HCPLive Rheumatology, Bruce Feinberg, DO, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Cardinal Health, explained the how Cardinal Health is focusing on understanding and engaging with all sectors of the healthcare economy, including providers, payers, patients, and biopharma manufacturers.

Feinberg views the variations in adoption of biosimilars by different physician specialties as a scientific question to investigate.

“As we've looked at oncologists, rheumatologists, and now expanding that to gastrointestinal doctors and dermatologists, we see very different levels of up embrace and adoption,” Feinberg noted. “And it seems that those levels are directly related to the amount of experience those physicians have had with the products that were available and the number of products available, not just the individual biosimilar but how many types of reference brands have biosimilars.”

Results indicated that physicians who have more experience with biosimilars and a greater variety of reference brands with biosimilars available tend to have higher levels of acceptance and adoption. For instance, in oncology, where there are many biosimilars and policies like the Oncology Care Model that encourage their use, there has been a much higher adoption rate. Rheumatology is following a similar trajectory as oncology, while gastroenterology and dermatology, which have had less exposure to biosimilars, have lower adoption rates.

Cardinal Health is also seeing the impact of policy on prescribing patterns, which adds another layer of complexity to the analysis. By looking at factors, including exposure and patient complexity, they can start to identify patterns and gain insights into the different levels of adoption across specialties.

Author Disclosures: Bruce Feinberg, DO, is the Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Cardinal Health