Biological medicines resource hub
Looking for up-to-date information on biological medicines? You can find it here!
We’ve linked resources from multiple providers into one place so it’s easy for you to find what you need.
Please contact us if you know of other biological medicines resources that could be added to the hub.
Clinical education resources from He Ako Hiringa
ARTICLE: Transition to adalimumab biosimilar
This article summarises the 2022 changes regarding adalimumab funding and access in New Zealand. It also provides some background and resources to foster confidence in biosimilars, and references real-world data from studies of patients changing from Humira to Amgevita.
BULLETIN: Adalimumab biosimilar improves access
He Ako Hiringa's Bulletin #11 explores how funding of the adalimumab biosimilar Amgevita can improve access.
BULLETIN: Biosimilars: A promising new era
He Ako Hiringa's Bulletin #7 outlines what biosimilars are and how they compare to reference biological medicines.
You can view the bulletin here.
Q&A: Adalimumab
This Q&A resource addresses common queries about the adalimumab funding changes, with prescribers now being urged to change patients from Humira (the reference biological) to Amgevita (a biosimilar). We’ve collated this list that also contains links to other useful resources, to help inform your conversations with colleagues and patients.
RECORDED WEBINAR: Humira to Amgevita - Experience from over the ditch
This recorded webinar covers the introduction of the adalimumab biosimilar Amgevita in New Zealand, and what it means for primary care. Specialist Dr David Liew shares his experiences of changing patients from biologics to biosimilars in Australia, and Andrea Copeland provides some local context.
ARTICLE & VIDEOS: Introduction to biological medicines
Our Introduction to biological medicines course features a short written article and five short animated videos highlighting the key aspects of biological medicines. You'll also find a quiz for each section.
View the resources here.
VIDEO: The patient voice - Moving to Amgevita
This short video explores what patients think about the move to Amgevita. We spoke to a group of seven New Zealanders living with arthritis to find out how they feel about changing from the biological reference medicine, Humira, to the new biosimilar medicine, Amgevita.
Resources from other providers
Adalimumab (Amgevita): Information for health care professionals (Pharmac)
Updated: January 2022
This Pharmac notice outlines the changes to adalimumab funding in New Zealand and includes information for both prescribers and dispensers.
Click here to read the article.
Amgevita Special Authority criteria (Pharmac)
Amgevita data sheet (Medsafe)
Revised: 26 July 2021
This Medsafe data sheet outlines dosing, method of administration, contraindications, and special warning and precautions for Amgevita.
Click here to view the data sheet.
Amgevita launch mailer
Produced by Amgen, this leaflet contains product information on Amgevita.
Amgevita product information (Amgen)
This is a letter from Amgen to healthcare professionals announcing the launch of Amgevita in New Zealand. It contains a picture of the SureClick delivery device.
Amgevita website
The Amgevita website contains product information and answers frequently asked questions.
ARTICLE: Guidance on medicines use: Biological and biosimilar medicines (New Zealand Formulary)
Updated: 1 February 2022
The New Zealand Formulary provides guidance on biological medicine use.
ARTICLE: The nocebo effect: what it is, why is it important and how can it be reduced? (bpacNZ)
Published: 30 August 2019
This article explores the nocebo effect, a phenomenon that describes adverse symptoms induced independently of the active component of a treatment. The nocebo effect occurs due to negative expectations or perceptions of a treatment, which can be influenced by factors such as healthcare beliefs, verbal or written health advice, media, the internet and social modelling. Strategies to minimise the nocebo effect help to improve medicine adherence and treatment outcomes.
Click here to read the article.
INFORMATION GUIDE: Biosimilars in the EU (European Medicines Agency/European Commission)
This information guide for healthcare professionals provides an overview of biological medicines and discusses the safety, availability, and interchangeability of biosimilars.
Click here to read the information guide.
NEWS RELEASE: Decision to widen access to adalimumab and award Principal Supply (Pharmac)
Published: November 2021.
In this news update, Pharmac discusses why access to adalimumab has been widened and how it will be implemented.
Click here to read this news release.
REVIEW: Biosimilar in rheumatology: current perspectives and lessons learnt (Nat Rev Rheumatol)
Published: 2015
This review discusses biosimilars approved to treat rheumatic disease, the main challenges posed by biosimilars, and strategies for adequate pharmacovigilance to monitor biosimilars after marketing approval.
Click here to read the review
STUDY: Safety, immunogenicity and interchangeability of biosimilar monoclonal antibodies and fusion proteins: A regulatory perspective (Drugs)
Published: 1 October 2021
This study explores the short- and long-term safety and interchangeability data of biosimilar mAbs and fusion proteins.
Click here to read the study.
STUDY: Efficacy and safety of the biosimilar ABP 501 compared with adalimumab in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (Ann Rheum Dis)
Published: 5 June 2017
This randomised, double-blind, phase III equivalence study compares the safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of adalimumab and its biosimilar ABP 501.
STUDY: Clinical similarity of biosimilar ABP 501 to adalimumab in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (JAAD)
Published: 10 March 2017
This randomised, double-blind, multicentre, phase III study compares the efficacy and safety of adalimumab with its biosimilar ABP 501.
Click here to read the study.
STUDY: The efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of switching between reference biopharmaceuticals and biosimilars (Clin Pharm Ther)
Published: 31 March 2020
This systematic review analyses the available data on switching between reference biological products and biosimilars and assesses whether switching patients between the two affects efficacy, safety, or immunogenicity outcomes.
Click here to read the study.
WEBPAGE: Avoiding the nocebo effect: talking to your patients about biosimilars (NPS)
This webpage from NPS MedicineWise contains information about how to avoid the nocebo effect as well as other resources on biosimilars.
WEBPAGE: Biosimilars (Medsafe)
Revised: 2 May 2014
This Medsafe webpage outlines what a biosimilar is and provides information on guidance and Medsafe's position.
Other relevant resources
BULLETIN: Starting a medicine? Accentuate the positive
Published: 26 November 2021
This bulletin from He Ako Hiringa outlines how to positively frame starting a new medicine to help patients avoid the nocebo effect.
You can view the bulletin here.
PODCAST: Legendary Conversations - Initiating new medicines (part 1)
Episode one of He Ako Hiringa's Legendary Conversations podcast features a discussion with Professor Keith Petrie about the psychological effects of taking medicines, and what primary healthcare professionals need to know.
Listen to the episode here.
For all episodes of our Legendary Conversations podcast, click here.
PODCAST: Legendary Conversations - Initiating new medicines (part 2)
Episode two of He Ako Hiringa's Legendary Conversations podcast features a scripted discussion that uses the Ask, Build, Check health literacy model when talking with a patient about starting a new medicine.
Listen to the episode here.
For all episodes of our Legendary Conversations podcast, click here.