Assessing physician and patient acceptance of infliximab biosimilars in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis across Germany

Figures & data

Figure 1 Rheumatologist prescribing preference when it is assumed that there are no restrictions or guidelines.

Abbreviations: AxSpa, ankylosing spondyloarthritis; PsA, psoriatic arthritis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.

Table 1 Rheumatologist-stated prescribing of biosimilars currently and expected in 12 months

	Currently prescribing			Expect to be prescribing in 12 months
	RA	AxSpa	PsA	RA	AxSpa	PsA
N	49	49	48	50	50	50
Percentage of total prescribed drugs	2.7	3.3	3.0	4.1	5.1	4.0
Percentage of total prescribed biologic therapies	7.9	9.1	9.0	12.4	14.7	12.2

Note: N, number of rheumatologists responding.

Abbreviations: AxSpa, ankylosing spondyloarthritis; PsA, psoriatic arthritis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.

Figure 2 Rheumatologists’ prescribing behaviors.

*Compared to the prescription of a biooriginator.

Notes: (A) Reasons switched patients receiving biooriginators to patients receiving biosimilars. (B) Intended prescribing of biosimilars when more widely available.

Table 2 Patient acceptance of biosimilars

Patient status	Biologic naive	Biooriginator patients in need of switch for clinical reasons	Biooriginator patients not in need of switch for clinical reasons
Patients accepted without reluctance (%)
N	48	48	48
Mean	71.2	61.3	56.3
SD	28.46	28.94	34.88
Patients reluctant but accepted as no other choice (%)
N	48	48	48
Mean	16.1	23.5	19.6
SD	17.88	20.31	19.14
Patients refused but accepted biooriginator (%)
N	48	48	48
Mean	7.3	10.8	18.5
SD	10.74	13.14	24.43
Patients refused biosimilar and biooriginator (%)
N	48	48	48
Mean	5.4	4.4	5.6
SD	7.42	6.33	8.29

Note: N, number of rheumatologists responding.

Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

Figure 3 Patient happiness to switch from biooriginator to biosimilar.

Abbreviation: Ns, not stated.

Figure 4 Patient perceptions of biosimilars.

Notes: (A) Satisfaction with the control of condition by current treatment (does not total 100% in each group as three patients in BioSN, five patients in BioSE, one patient in BioOA and one patient in BioOB did not respond to this question). (B) Concerns when first prescribed their treatment. BioOA, patient receiving biooriginator who was initiated after February 2015; BioOB, patient receiving biooriginator who was initiated before January 2015; BioSN, patient receiving biosimilar who was previously biologic naive; BioSE, patient receiving biosimilar who has an experience of a biooriginator.

Figure S1 Patient analysis groups based on current medication.

Notes: BioOA, patient receiving biooriginator who was initiated after February 2015; BioOB, patient receiving biooriginator who was initiated before January 2015; BioSN, patient receiving biosimilar who was previously biologic naive; BioSE, patient receiving biosimilar who has an experience of a biooriginator.