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Der Pharmacia Sinica
ISSN: 0976-8688
Eurosc i con Conference on
Medicinal Chemistry
and Biosimilars
M a r c h 2 5 - 2 6 , 2 0 1 9
B u d a p e s t , H u n g a r y
Medicinal Chemistry & Biosimilars 2019
M
any theories have tried to explain the well-known PLACEBO effect of some inactive ingredients as an outcome of patient’s
expectations. The expanded use of generics and now the increasing use of biosimilars have brought a new definition to
the attention of clinicians who tend to describe the correlation between negative expectations or negative communications with
negative subjective treatment outcomes as the NOCEBO effect, a phenomenon that can cause the induction or the worsening of
symptomsbyshamor active therapiesmayaccount for someadverseevents (AEs) reportedbypatients following treatment.Nocebo
responses may occur as unintended result of the requirement for healthcare professionals to explain possible complications and
side effects when initiating treatment. Misleading or over negative communications may set negative expatiations at the patients’
level which may ultimately trigger negative perceptions of treatment outcomes and a tendency to overreport adverse events
and to withdraw from treatment regimens. Proper fact-based explanations by health care professionals coupled with strategies
to reassure and engage patients upon initiating or switching to a biosimilar is a key in ensuring better treatment outcomes and
sustainability on biosimilars to ensure broader access for patients to complex biologics and reduce the financial burden on health
care systems.
mouradfarouk.rezk@biogen.comUnderstanding the NOCEBO effect can help
optimizing treatment outcomes with biosimilars
Mourad F Rezk
Medical and Scientific Affairs, Switzerland
Der Pharmacia Sinica 2019, Volume:10
DOI: 10.21767/0976-8688-C1-003