Biosimilar switching is becoming more common as Rituximab, Trastuzumab and Bevacizumab all have biosimilars on the market. Due to stock shortages and contract prices, there may be a need to switch biosimilars more regularly. This will become more common as additional biosimilar products come to the market. iQemo can facilitate biosimilar switching through several mechanisms.
iQemo allows substitution of drugs when the drug is set to allow substitution within the drug formulary. Substitutes are a great option for short term supply problems as they can be used to update prescriptions which are already prescribed.
A substitute can be defined for a drug within the drug formulary which will allow substitution. Inthe prescription below the organisation has enabled substitutions for Rituximab.
The substitute icon appears next to Rituximab below.
When selected, the modal allows the user to select to substitute for the either Truxima or Rixathon. Both of these options have been set up within the drug formulary.
Now that the user has selected Rixathon the prescription for Rituximab has updated to the Rixathon biosimilar brand as below.
iQemo facilitates the building of regimens using drug sets. From an iQemo Hierarchy perspective at the bottom of the hierarchy sit the druglines. A drug line can be saved as a favourite. Favourites can be added to drugsets. Drug sets can be added to regimens. Regimens are prescribed as prescriptions.
When building regimens which have drugs that are likely to require biosimilar switching it can be effective to use drug sets. The advantage of using drug sets in this scenario is that it allows for quick and effective biosimilar switching across a regimen library without the need to update all the regimens individually. This is how it works.
First a drug set will need to be built. The regimen build team at your organisation will be able to do this as appropriate. Below is an example drug set for Rituximab. This contains a drug favourite for the Rixathon biosimilar.
This drug set can then be added to a regimen. In this regimen below the Rituximab drug set has been added.
When this treatment is prescribed the regimen will pullt hrough the Rituximab from the drug set – Rixathon in this case.
When there is a need to switch biosimilar it is now possible to update the drug set. The user can remove the Rixathon favourite from the drug set, and in add a different biosimilar drug favourite in its place. This will in turn update all the regimens containing this drug set and all future prescriptions prescribed after the change is made will now pull through the updated biosimilar.
You can therefore switch biosimilar quickly and safely across a large regimen library.
iQ HealthTech was established in 2011 by a founding-team of software developers and a practicing consultant oncologist. With a team of subject experts working across design, development, implentations and customer success, the company develops people-centric technology with the goal of improving patient outcomes, everywhere. The company delivers innovative Saas and standalone platforms, including iQemo – the industry-leading, end-to-end chemotherapy prescribing and management platform used by NHS and private hospitals in the UK, and a growing number of hospitals worldwide. Learn more
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iQemo, from iQHealthTech, provides specialist chemotherapy prescribing. A complete end-to-end solution that includes predefined regimens, prescribing, scheduling and dispensing, through to chemotherapy administration and reporting. iQemo is used in NHS Trusts and private hospitals in the UK, and in a growing number of hospitals worldwide. Learn More
iQ HealthTech was established in 2011 by a founding-team of software developers and a practicing consultant oncologist. With a team of subject experts working across design, development, implentations and customer success, the company develops people-centric technology with the goal of improving patient outcomes, everywhere. Learn more
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