Australian trade group slams PBAC decision on pharmacy substitution of biosimilars

Pharma trade group Medicines Australia has expressed strong concerns about the recommendation by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) that pharmacists be allowed to substitute the biosimilars in place of biologic medicines prescribed by a patient’s doctor.

The so-called “a-flagging” means that pharmacists can make this substitution without the knowledge or consent of the patient’s specialist doctor, GP or even the patient. The concern has grown with the approval this week of the first biosimilar in Australia, Hospira’s Inflectra (infliximab), a “copy” Merck & Co’s Remicade.

Move already widely condemned