Oncologists’ Knowledge and Perspectives on the Use of Biosimilars

The findings of a survey of US oncologists indicate that practicing oncologists have gaps in their knowledge about biosimilars.

The findings of a survey of US oncologists to examine their knowledge, attitudes, and experience with biosimilars were reported at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

Participating oncologists completed a 29-question survey using the American Society of Clinical Oncology Survey Research Pool between October 6, 2020, and November 16, 2020. The survey was designed with structured input from clinical and healthcare system experts, as well as literature review.

A total of 269 respondents completed the survey. The majority of respondents (88%) indicated that they utilized biosimilars, and that biosimilars were required at their institution. Approximately half the oncologists surveyed lacked adequate knowledge about biosimilars, including the concept of interchangeability. Also, oncologists in community settings were more often concerned about safety and efficacy than those in academic practices.

The results of this survey indicated that oncologists have gaps in knowledge about biosimilars, warranting future education in these areas.

Source: Peipert J, Kaiser K, Kircher SM, et al. Oncologists’ knowledge and perspectives on the use of biosimilars. J Clin Oncol. 2021;39(suppl_28):35-35.