Cure8 research brief
Biosimilars can expand access to effective biologic treatment for people with IBD by reducing costs, but adoption barriers mean some patients may not benefit. Understanding evidence, practical concerns, and implementation steps can help patients and clinicians navigate switching or starting biosimilars.
Clinicians who prescribe biologics, patients on or considering biologic therapy (including those on biosimilars), health system leaders, and policymakers interested in implementation and cost/access issues.
This opinion/review article summarizes existing evidence about biosimilars in IBD (starting biologic‑naive patients on biosimilars, single and multiple switches, and reverse switches) and discusses controversies that hinder adoption such as immunogenicity concerns, indication extrapolation, non‑medical switching, and switch‑backs.
The authors describe system‑level and interpersonal barriers (including the nocebo effect and physician hesitation) and propose a pragmatic 5‑step framework to guide structured biosimilar initiation or switching in routine care.
The paper also highlights implementation challenges in resource‑limited settings and introduces the idea of a “nocebo‑prone environment” to explain unequal uptake.
This is an opinion/review article published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology that synthesizes evidence and offers implementation recommendations; it does not present new randomized trial results.
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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