"Diffusion of Biosimilar Hemopoietic Growth Factors Use in Oncology Practice: an Italian Experience", PECI-D-15-00004
QUESTIONNAIRE (San Matteo oncology answers are indicated in %)
1) What is a biosimilar drug?
A. A biotechnology drug that is similar but not identical to the originator (100%)
B. A biotechnology drug that is identical to the originator
C. I do not know
D. A drug that is produced at the end of patent, as for generics
2) What are the relevant difficulties related to biosimilar drugs use?
A. Biosimilars may function in a different way (9%)
B. Biosimilars may be responsible of allergic reactions
C. Biosimilars may have different immunogenicity (36%)
D. There are no difficulties (55%)
3) Do you think that biosimilars may represent a saving opportunity for the NHS?
A. Yes, they may represent a saving opportunity (91%)
B. No, critical issues on safety and efficacy are excessive
C. I think it would be more important to consider more relevant saving opportunities (9%)
4) Are biosimilars of monoclonal antibodies commercially available in Italy?
A. Yes
B. No (100%)
C. I do not know
5) In some European country, the hospital pharmacist can substitute the originator with a biosimilar drug. Do you think that drug substitutability must be a medical prerogative?
A. Yes (82%)
B. No (18%)
C. I do not know
6) Do you think that if the biosimilar is less expensive than the originator, it should be preferred in naïve patients?
A. Yes (91%)
B. No (9%)
C. I do not know
7) Do you think it feasible to perform “switching” from an originator to a biosimilar drug in an oncology patient?
A. Yes, it is an issue that might be discussed on a case-to-case base (45%)
B. No (9%)
C. It could be considered if the patient used the originator in a previous line of chemotherapy (27%)
D. Yes, always (18%)
8) Do you think that the lower price of biosimilars might have induced prescriptions that are not in line with current guidelines?
A. No (91%)
B. Yes
C. I think it possible (9%)
D. I do not know
9) Do you think that the project had in some way limited your prescription freedom?
A. Yes (63%)
B. No (36%)
C. In part
10) The prescription of growth factors was limited to oncologists. Do you think it had a positive impact on pharmacovigilance?
A. Yes (100%)
B. No
C. I do not know
11) What, if any, was the major difficulty you met during the project?
A. The patient refused to use a drug of unknown or new commercial name
B. The patient refused to consider the proposed multi-injection schedule for G-CSF
C. Unpredictable side effects
D. Drug availability shortage (91%)
E. I had no difficulties (9%)
12) Do you think that the biosimilars you used during this project had safety or efficacy issues?
A. Yes
B. No (100%)
C. Occasionally