OBJECTIVE: To explore preferences of gastroenterologists for biosimilar drugs in Crohn's disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Discrete choice experiment was carried out involving 51 Hungarian gastroenterologists in May 2014. The following attributes were used to describe hypothetical choice sets: 1) type of the treatment (biosimilar/originator), 2) severity of disease, 3) availability of continuous medicine supply, 4) frequency of the efficacy check-ups. Multinomial logit model was used to differentiate between three attitude types: 1) always opting for the originator, 2) willing to consider biosimilar for biological-naïve patients only, 3) willing to consider biosimilar treatment for both types of patients. Conditional logit model was used to estimate the probabilities of choosing a given profile. RESULTS: Men, senior consultants, working in inflammatory bowel disease center and treating more patients were more likely willing to consider biosimilar for biological-naïve patients only. Treatment type (originator/biosimilar) was the most important determinant of choice for patients already treated with biologicals, and the availability of continuous medicine supply in case of biological-naïve patients. The probabilities of choosing the biosimilar with all the benefits offered over the originator under current reimbursement conditions are 89% versus 11% for new patients, and 44% versus 56% for patients already treated with biological. CONCLUSIONS: For gastroenterologist, the continuous medical supply would be one of the major benefits of biosimilars. However, benefits offered in the scenarios do not compensate for the change from the originator to the biosimilar treatment of patients already treated with biologicals.

1 Department of Health Economics Corvinus University of Budapest Fővám tér 8 H 1093 Budapest Hungary Europe

1 Department of Health Economics Corvinus University of Budapest Fővám tér 8 H 1093 Budapest Hungary Europe b 2 CERGE EI Fellow Politických vězňů 936 7 110 00 Praha 1 Nové Město The Czech Republic Europe

1 Department of Health Economics Corvinus University of Budapest Fővám tér 8 H 1093 Budapest Hungary Europe d 4 Department of Rheumatology Flór Ferenc County Hospital Semmelweis tér 1 H 2143 Kistarcsa Hungary Europe

1 Department of Health Economics Corvinus University of Budapest Fővám tér 8 H 1093 Budapest Hungary Europe e 5 Semmelweis University Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine Üllői út 26 H 1085 Budapest Hungary Europe

c 3 1st Department of Medicine Semmelweis University Korányi Sándor utca 2a H 1083 Budapest Hungary Europe

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