Biosimilars, biologics and IBD

HPE LIVE was once again a great success, and in this issue we showcase the innovative best-practice interventions of our inaugural Poster and Oral Presentation winners. Congratulations to all!

Optimal and prudent prescribing of antibiotics to minimise the spread of resistance is crucial. In an original study by Alahmadi and colleagues, current patterns of antibiotic use and the incidence of hospital-acquired infections were assessed in five acute teaching hospitals in Northern Ireland. They demonstrated the value of a point-prevalence approach in identifying possible targets for quality improvement, and as a means of monitoring and maintaining practice improvement.

2017 has already seen some major developments in the field of biosimilars, with the launch and marketing of the first biosimilar mAb in oncology, and position papers from the European Society for Medical Oncology, the British Oncology Pharmacy Association and the European Crohn’s and Colitis Society on biosimilars in providing sustainable cancer care, guidance in implementing biosimilars in oncology, and support for switching to biosimilar infliximab in IBD, respectively.

In this issue, Anja St Clair Jones discusses the ever-increasing incidence of IBD and the new biosimilar and biologic agents in the pipeline, and discusses how pharmacists are ideally placed to deal with the increasing complexities in cost and treatment decisions in a disease where stratification is still in its infancy.