Survey of US certified diabetes educators (CDEs) suggests high interest in future use of biosimilar insulin due to cost savings

3^rd International Conference and Exhibition on Biowaivers, Biologics & Biosimilars

October 27-29, 2014 Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Hyderabad, India

Jessica Dong, Nina Ran, Jasmine Carvalho, Vincent Wu, Joseph Shivers and Kelly Close

Posters: J Bioanal Biomed

Abstract :

Only 26% of people with diabetes in the US use insulin, even though 47% have A1c>7%. Cost may be a barrier to use, and biosimilar insulin (BI) offers potential savings. In 2013 we surveyed a panel of US CDEs about willingness to recommend BI, and how long BI would need to be on the market before recommending it. 405 CDEs (56% outpatient hospital setting, 26% private office, mean 20 patients/week) responded to the survey, of which 31 (8%) were categorized as KOLs (?key opinion leader? CDEs who spoke at conferences, authored journal articles, and trained other educators). The survey specified that BI would be less costly than current insulins. Most CDEs said they would ?definitely? (37%) or ?likely? (49%) recommend BI, with only 1% saying ?unlikely? or ?definitely not.? The KOL subgroup was similarly receptive; the majority were ?definitely? (26%) or ?likely? (48%) willing to recommend BI and only 3% replied ?unlikely? or ?definitely not.? When asked how long BI would need to be on the market before recommending it, nearly all CDEs (94%) would recommend BI after 1 year, with 30% willing to recommend it immediately following BI launch. KOLs? responses suggested a greater openness to BI, with 100% willing to recommend BI after 1 year on the market and 48% willing to recommend at launch. We conclude there is high interest in future use of BI among CDEs and KOLs. This could contribute to a significant transformation in insulin usage patterns in the US when BI becomes available.

Biography :

Jessica Dong is a Senior Associate at Close Concerns Inc., a healthcare information company whose mission is to improve patient outcomes in diabetes and obesity. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at Dartmouth University and will matriculate at medical school in the fall of 2014 where she plans to pursue a dual MD/MPH.