title: Patient Perspectives on Biosimilars: A Survey by the European Federation of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Associations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this survey was to find out the patients' perspectives concerning biosimilars.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey consisting of 14 questions was made available between November 2014 and October 2015. Only respondents who had heard of biosimilars were asked to respond the final twelve questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1181 patients responded. Of these, 38% had heard of biosimilars. The respondents worried about biosimilars' safety profile [47.0%], efficacy [40.3%], and molecular basis [35.0%]. Only 25.2% of the respondents had no concerns about biosimilars. Just over half [55.9%] of the respondents thought that the lower cost of the biosimilars should not come before their safety and efficacy. Only 12.5% of respondents felt that extrapolation made sense. The survey showed that 39.9% felt that patients should be systematically informed, and 26.7% felt that patient associations should be informed and able to give their opinions. It also revealed that 20.9% of the respondents would be against the idea of interchangeability if the patient was not aware; 65.7% of the respondents would want to know whether they were receiving the reference drug or the biosimilar, and have all necessary information in writing before the drug was administered. Only 31.0% of the respondents would be fully confident about biosimilars, even if they were prescribed and explained by the treating physician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients were not familiar with biosimilars, and those who were had doubts and concerns about the biosimilars' safety and efficacy. The patients wished to be informed and involved in decision-making concerning biosimilars.
authors.affiliation: Inserm U954 and Department of Gastroenterology, Nancy University Hospital, Université de Lorraine, Allée du Morvan, 54 511 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France peyrinbiroulet@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peyrin-Biroulet
authors.affiliation: European Federation of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Associations, Rue Des Chartreux, 33-35 Brussels B 1000 Belgium.
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lönnfors
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saint-Etienne University Hospital, 25 Boulevard Pasteur, 42055 Saint-Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Roblin
authors.affiliation: IBD Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas University, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danese
authors.affiliation: European Federation of Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis Associations, Rue Des Chartreux, 33-35 Brussels B 1000 Belgium.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Avedano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005060:Europe; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents
keywords: Biosimilars; inflammatory bowel disease