OBJECTIVES

: To examine the factors influencing the prescribing of biologics by atopic dermatitis (AD) specialists across EU5 markets (UK/FR/DE/IT/ES).

METHODS

: A multi-country multi-centre medical chart-review study of AD patients was conducted among AD specialists to collect de-identified data. Physician screening criteria: specialty duration (3-30 years), patient volume (≥5 moderate/severe AD patients/month). Physicians were recruited from a geographically representative panel. Physicians abstracted patient diagnosis, symptomatology, disease severity, and factors influencing prescribing patterns of 5 consecutive moderate/severe AD patients.

RESULTS

: In Q1 2019, 258 physicians abstracted 1307 AD patients (mean age:30.2 years, female:47.9%). German physicians reported a significantly higher proportion of AD patients receiving biologic treatment than physicians in the rest of EU5 (UK:35.3%/FR:34.5%/DE:65.6%/IT:37.6%/ES:24.3%, p<0.05). The most frequently cited reasons for not prescribing biologics were – UK: Only use biologics after other options have failed (52.4%), FR/DE/IT: Patient indecision (43.6%/46.8%/40.9%), ES: Concerns about long term safety (39.0%). Spanish physicians, who have the smallest proportion of biologic patients across EU5, were significantly more likely to report a lack of options available than those in Germany (DE:4.8%/ES:23.0%, p<0.05). Consequently, German physicians report fewer barriers to prescribing biologics and are significantly less likely to report cost/funding issues than physicians in the UK, Italy and Spain (UK:27.0%/DE:4.8%/IT:22.7%/ES:34.0%, p<0.05). French physicians are significantly more likely to be satisfied with current non-biologic treatments than Italian and Spanish physicians (FR:29.5%/IT:11.4%/ES:8.0%, p<0.05). When asked about future prescribing intent, Italian physicians were significantly more likely than UK or French physicians to consider prescribing biologics for patients not currently receiving them in the next 6 months (UK:29.2%/FR:26.3%/IT:48.12%, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

: Myriad factors influence prescribing patterns for AD patients across EU5, highlighting the differing attitudes towards prescribing biologics, and how barriers such as access and reimbursement have varying influence across the EU5. It will be prudent to observe how attitudes change as more biologics become available for AD.