Will NOR-SWITCH give policy makers the data they have been hoping for?

In an expert view piece, Dr Rieke Alten and Sadie Whittaker from the Global Alliance for Patient Access examines the results of biosimilar switching study NOR-SWITCH and what they mean for patients.

Earlier this month, initial results from a biosimilar switching study called “NOR-SWITCH” were released at the annual United European Gastroenterology Week meeting in Vienna. Data from switching studies such as these have the potential to impact how biologic medicines are used around the world. It’s important that policymakers do not misinterpret or exaggerate the findings, but instead use the data to develop medically appropriate policies.But what does data from NOR-SWITCH show? What is the study NOT designed to show? And how might the findings affect patients receiving biologic medicines?

Why does switching matter?