OBJECTIVES: Biosimilars can positively tackle challenges related to healthcare budget sustainability. However, their market penetration is often hindered by patients’ negative perceptions. This study aims to evaluate South Korean patients’ perceptions and preferences regarding biosimilars and their originators.

METHODS: An anonymous, self-administered, web-based survey, consisting of maximum 28 questions including demographic information, was conducted. Survey respondents were recruited from the Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient Association and Ewha Womans University Medical Centers, between November 2023 and June 2024. Only respondents with medical conditions were included in the analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 122 responses were collected, out of which 114 were analyzed after excluding 8 individuals without any medical conditions. Among them, 61.4% (N=70) had heard of biosimilars, yet 58.0% (N=67) were unaware of biosimilars’ definition, and 62.3% (N=71) did not understand the difference between generics and biosimilars. Given this, it is not surprising that most patients (61.4%, N=70) expressed no clear preference for biosimilars. However, a majority of those (78.1%, 25 out of 32) who have used biosimilars reported strong satisfaction with their biosimilar experiences, primarily due to the therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, those familiar with the definition of biosimilar (20 out of 47) showed a significantly higher preference for biosimilar compared to those unfamiliar (12 out of 67, p = 0.013). Meanwhile, 92.9% (39 out of 42) of patients exclusively treated with either originators or biosimilars cited physician recommendations as their primary reason for choosing their respective treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Most patients were not familiar with biosimilars and expressed a neutral preference. The large proportion of neutrality suggests there is room for improvement in patients’ awareness of biosimilars. Therefore, to further increase biosimilar utilization, it is necessary to implement policies that foster patient education programs to enhance patient perception of biosimilars and encourage physicians to prescribe biosimilars.