Recent Biosimilars Announcement: Open letter to the Premier

Dear Premier,

Attached please find a copy of an open letter from Dr. Durhane Wong-Rieger on behalf of Consumer Advocare Network to the Premier regarding the subject: Recent Biosimilars Announcement

The reason provided for forcing a switch is that clinicians and patients will not switch unless they are required to do so; therefore, drug plans have to totally withdraw the original biologic. Isn’t this evidence enough that patients and clinicians do not want to change from drugs when they are working well?

Attached please find a summary of research that we have conducted over the past four years with a broad patient community regarding their perceptions about biosimilars and forced switching. Regardless of their disease, patients who are stabilized on a biologic medicine, do NOT want to switch. More than 90% say they want to have a say in the choice of medicine. Moreover, as we know, patients who are unhappy or worried about the medicines they are taking will be less than totally adherent. Then the medicines will have limited benefit, or even cause harm. We urge you to listen to the patients.

As responsible agents for the public good, you have the opportunity to support patients AND to have lowest cost medicines.

Open letter to the Premier pdf

How NOT to Treat Patients with Biosimilars pdf_