$3.2 Million Saved Through Biosimilar Substitution in Rheumatology Clinics
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several biosimilars—agents designed to match reference biologics in both safety and efficacy. Despite their promise, adoption has been inconsistent across care settings. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology found that a recent initiative at a large academic medical center significantly increased biosimilar uptake and generated substantial cost savings through targeted interventions.
The project targeted adult patients, ages 17 years and older, with rheumatologic conditions treated with either infliximab or rituximab. Beginning in 2018, the institution implemented a series of educational initiatives for providers, along with modifications to its electronic health record (EHR) system. These interventions were designed to encourage prescribing of infliximab-dyyb and rituximab-abbs, both biosimilar formulations of widely used biologic drugs. The program was monitored through 2023 to track utilization patterns and cost outcomes.
The results were striking. From a baseline of less than 5% utilization, biosimilar prescribing rates rose to 49.4% for infliximab-dyyb and 51.3% for rituximab-abbs by the end of the observation period. This shift resulted in an estimated $3.2 million in cost savings—achieved within a single specialty clinic and based solely on two biosimilar substitutions. These findings highlight the powerful role biosimilar adoption can play in reducing healthcare costs without compromising treatment effectiveness or patient outcomes.
The success of this initiative underscores the importance of multimodal strategies to support biosimilar uptake in clinical practice. Educational efforts can address provider hesitancy, while EHR-driven prompts and prescribing pathways can normalize biosimilar use within routine care. For managed care organizations, these results provide a compelling case study in how institutional leadership, combined with practical tools and policies, can drive adoption of cost-saving therapies. If scaled broadly, such approaches could help rein in escalating drug expenditures while ensuring continued access to high-quality biologic treatments for patients with rheumatic diseases.
Reference
Zamir A, Eseddi J, Wishin S, Carmichael D, Bernabela L, Bajaj P. Increasing Biosimilar Uptake in Rheumatology Clinics Within a Large Academic Medical Center. J Clin Rheumatol. Published online March 14, 2025. doi:10.1097/RHU.0000000000002221
