The British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA) will publish its guidelines on the Implementation of Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies on its website. The guidelines also include BOPA’s Position Statement on Biosimilar used in cancer.
The British Oncology Pharmacy Association (BOPA) will publish its guidelines on the Implementation of Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies on its website. The guidelines also include BOPA’s Position Statement on Biosimilar used in cancer.
BOPA’s position is that biosimilar monoclonal antibodies (mABs) are therapeutically equivalent to the originator molecules and can and should be used for all commissioned indications, provided pharmacovigilance safeguards are in place, for example, branded prescribing.
With over a 1000 members, BOPA represents the pharmacists who will be at the heart of the implementation of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies for cancer patients in the NHS.
BOPA will be working together with NHS Cancer Vanguards, NHS Commissioners, National Pharmaceutical Procurement Groups, clinicians and patients to facilitate early adoption of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies into the NHS.
In 2017 the first biosimilar mABs to be used for the treatment of cancer(s) will be introduced in the UK; firstly intravenous (IV) biosimilar rituximab(s) for haematological malignancies then IV biosimilar trastuzumab(s) for breast cancers. It is anticipated that over the next decade many more biosimilar mABs will be introduced into clinical practice. These two products represent considerable medicines expenditure in the UK, exceeding £300 million per annum. It is estimated that effective use of biosimilars can save the NHS £90 million per anum.
BOPA is the British Oncology Pharmacy Association, founded in the autumn of 1996. The purpose of BOPA is to promote excellence in the pharmaceutical care of patients with cancer through education, communication, research and innovation by an alliance of hospital, community and academic pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, those in the pharmaceutical industry and other healthcare professionals.
The position statement and Guidelines on Implementation of Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies can be found at http://www.bopawebsite.org/publications.
