OBJECTIVES: To determine the overall potential twelve-month savings opportunity when accounting for both drug acquisition cost savings and operational cost incurred in a theoretical UK account transition programme setting.

METHODS: A simulated UK health system account was devised based on a cohort of 250 adult patients with a total annual usage volume of 6,500 units of the 40mg reference adalimumab biologic. Operational costs incurred for an individual patient transition were assumed to be £62.40 based on current NHS guidance. The reference adalimumab biologic price was assumed to be at list price with no further discounting with other biosimilar formulations at a discount of 50% and 65%. The account scenario was based on an immediate transition programme (assuming full patient consent for change in formulation had previously been obtained).

RESULTS: At a discount of 50%, a potential full year effect saving of £1.14m could be achieved increasing to £1.49m at a 65% discount. Allowing for the operational transition costs of £15,600 (staff time, counselling, training and other related issues) for this cohort, savings could be expected to be similar after operational cost outlay.

CONCLUSIONS: Operational costs are an important factor to consider when planning a transition programme. These costs will invariably be required to be an upfront cost impact but the longer-term savings through competitive pricing outweigh this initial investment. To maximise these savings, mechanisms between the payer and the clinical account need to be in place to allow for rapid adoption.