Treatment preferences of originator versus biosimilar drugs in XXXX ; discrete choice experiment among gastroenterologists.

@entity1 @entity30 @entity29
OBJECTIVE: To explore preferences of gastroenterologists for biosimilar drugs in @entity30 . MATERIAL AND METHODS: Discrete choice experiment was carried out involving 51 Hungarian gastroenterologists in May 2014. The following attributes were used to describe hypothetical choice sets: 1) type of the treatment (biosimilar/originator), 2) severity of disease, 3) availability of continuous medicine supply, 4) frequency of the efficacy check-ups. Multinomial logit model was used to differentiate between three attitude types: 1) always opting for the originator, 2) willing to consider biosimilar for biological-na  ve @entity1 only, 3) willing to consider biosimilar treatment for both types of @entity1 . Conditional logit model was used to estimate the probabilities of choosing a given profile. RESULTS: @entity1 , senior consultants, working in @entity29 center and treating more @entity1 were more likely willing to consider biosimilar for biological-na  ve @entity1 only. Treatment type (originator/biosimilar) was the most important determinant of choice for @entity1 already treated with biologicals, and the availability of continuous medicine supply in case of biological-na  ve @entity1 . The probabilities of choosing the biosimilar with all the benefits offered over the originator under current reimbursement conditions are 89% versus 11% for new @entity1 , and 44% versus 56% for @entity1 already treated with biological. CONCLUSIONS: For gastroenterologist, the continuous medical supply would be one of the major benefits of biosimilars. However, benefits offered in the scenarios do not compensate for the change from the originator to the biosimilar treatment of @entity1 already treated with biologicals.
