In a recent chat, Josh Canavan, PharmD, who leads the pharmacy team at RazorMetrics, shared insights about pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their impact on biosimilars. He pointed out how crucial PBMs are in ensuring that these medications are both safe and effective.
Canavan also stressed the role of PBMs in spreading knowledge about biosimilars among patients and healthcare providers.
This transcript may be lightly edited for clarity.
Transcript
What educational resources do you recommend for physicians and pharmacists?
Canavan praised the FDA for its educational efforts, noting that many people trust the FDA website. He mentioned that RazorMetrics provides direct links to clinical trials that compare biosimilars with biologics. This approach allows healthcare professionals to access original data, not just summaries. They can explore all endpoints and findings firsthand.
He highlighted that using various sources like the FDA’s website and clinical trials is beneficial. Additionally, RazorMetrics offers simplified information for patients who might not be familiar with these concepts.
What should people know about PBMs’ role in biosimilars?
Canavan pointed out that the extensive research conducted by PBMs often goes unnoticed. Before adding a medication to their formulary, PBMs have clinical teams, including pharmacists and physicians, who thoroughly review the data. They study clinical trials and comparative studies of biosimilars and biologics.
He emphasized that a lot of careful thought and effort goes into creating and updating formularies. Once a PBM includes a medication, they do so with confidence in its effectiveness and market potential. This is a testament to the rigorous process PBMs undertake to ensure accurate and reliable information for their members.
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