Examining the complexities of the community networks limiting the uptake of biosimilar medications in the Australian healthcare system

There is the potential to relieve some of the cost burden through the use of biosimilar medications. Many countries around the world have realised significant cost savings by replacing biologics with biosimilars. However, in Australia, biosimilars available in community settings have realised only modest penetration rates. We may be able to attribute these low rates up biosimilar uptake to the complexities that exist within the network of actors from manufacturing to dispensing. This project recognises the emergence of biosimilar medicines in the Australian market and the importance of access and convenience for the general patient population.

This project will address how to build an appropriate framework for evaluating community care networks involved in prescribing and provisioning (dispensing) biologic and biosimlar medicines. The framework will assess the positioning and effect of the key actors, power brokers and actants that exist within these networks. Further, the framework will create a practical application for assessing the pharmacoeconomic value of influencing these actors and channels to drive increased rates of biosimilar medicine uptake by patients in the Australian community setting.