Licensing:
- Bekemv is NOT licensed for children 2 and under
Switching Patients to Biosimilar Eculizumab
The following is intended to help local clinical teams switch to biosimilar eculizumab.
- Two biosimilar eculizumab products are available. NHS England, as the commissioner, expects providers to use the best value product currently available and therefore we currently recommend Epysqli (Samsung Bioepis). Patients should be switched to Epysqli as soon as possible unless there is a specific clinical reason why this is not appropriate.
Homecare:
Both biosimilars will be pharma funded for homecare. Below is a list of homecare providers and which brand of eculizumab they are able to access.
| Homecare provider | Bekemv
(Amgen) |
Epysqli (Samsung Bioepis) | Soliris (Alexion) |
| Sciensus | Yes | Yes- date to be confirmed | Yes |
| Lloyds Homecare | Yes | ||
| Alcura | Yes | Yes | |
| HealthNet | Yes | Yes |
Teaching of homecare nurses
We have always provided teaching to the homecare nurses in Sciensus, Lloyds and Alcura. As both Amgen and Samsung Bioepis are using HealthNet, we have also provided teaching to these nurses about aHUS, troubleshooting, and the needs of our patients.
Monitoring after biosimilar switch
Monitoring (meningococcal and factor H autoantibodies)
- At present, this is done via homecare for patients receiving homecare eculizumab, and is co-ordinated by the aHUS Nurses
- Amgen have agreed we can use the existing model for patients managed on their product
- Samsung Bioepis have also agreed they will offer the same level of service for patients managed on Epysqli
Ordering Processes
Amgen and Samsung Bioepis have produced how to guides to facilitate a switch to their respective products, shown below.
As part of the switch process, certificate of vaccination is no longer required by any of the manufacturers of eculizumab.
The companies have provided links on how to order drug ahead of a planned switch.
We would recommend contacting our service (nuth.ahus.nurses@nhs.net) when clinical teams switch a patient, so we can confirm which homecare company they are with, to ensure communication in relation to meningococcal and factor H autoantibody monitoring is with the correct company
Switching to Bekemv
Switching to Epysqli
Licensing:
- Epysqli can be used in any age
Content provided by Samsung Bioepis to support switch – please note the first dose of Epysqli may be given in hospital or at home and is the decision of the clinical team
A guide to transitioning patients to Epysqli
Order form for Epysqli