gms | German Medical Science

Background: The current trend of personalized medicine induces a constant inflow of biotechnically produced pharmaceuticals into the market. Although the amount of prescribed packages, particularly of biologicals, is (still) low, costs are comparatively high due to their high prices. Biosimilars may help to save resources for the private insurance (PKV) and the state sickness funds (GKV). The aim of the study is to describe biosimilar rates for the PKV on the regional level and to compare them with the rates of the GKV.

Materials and Methods: In a secondary data analysis, we used prescriptions of 17 private health insurers from the year 2015. The dataset was extended via the Pharmaceutical Identification Code (PZN) of the ABDATA in order to add variables which allow identifying a biological drug and the name of the active substance. Additionally, the consumed packages were assigned to each region via the zip code of each person. Frequency statistics per region helped to estimate the relationship between the sum of biosimilars and the sum of biologicals. The resulting biosimilar rates were ranked by region and compared with the biosimilar rates of the GKV. The strength of the bivariate correlation between PKV- and GKV-rates was assessed by Stuart’s Tau-c rank correlation coefficient.

Results: The data represent 90 % of the privately insured. The PKV biosimilar rates oscillate between 7 % (Saarland) and 21 % (Hamburg). The GKV rates show a similar range of variation. The bivariate correlation coefficient Tau-c is 0,421 (p=0,023).

Conclusion: The biosimilar rates of PKV and GKV are on a low level. An increase is only achievable by physicians who may change pharmaceuticals (switching) or prescribe biosimilars at the beginning of new drug therapies. The regional ranks of biosimilar rates for the PKV show a strong correlation with the GKV rates. It seems that the regional Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians is managing the biosimilar rates partially of the PKV.