expert corner
Market uptake of biosimilars and realization of biosimilars potential in expanding access or saving healthcare budgets
A complex interplay of biosimilars versus originator pricing, stakeholder awareness and attitudes is going to play an important role in shaping the future of biosimilars. The EU experience with biosimilars over the last 10 years has been quite positive with a definite cost saving as well as expansion of treatment access( as well shaping a change in treatment paradigms). Further the EU experience with the marketed biosimilars has not revealed any unexpected untoward efficacy or safety concerns in the real world use setting.
Published studies and systematic analyses provide further evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of biosimilars, including experience in the setting of single and multiple switches between biosimilar and originator( notably NorSwitch and EGALITY studies). Such emerging data is likely to contribute towards building confidence of the prescribers, patients and payers in the biosimilars, and this is likely to impact the biosimilars uptake positively. In fact we see more and more expert bodies around the world endorsing the use of biosimilars now. Recent surveys reveal that physicians’ knowledge about biosimilars is improving but still there remain knowledge gaps. These findings affirm the need for further focus on prescriber and patient education regarding the biosimilars.
Market consolidation
The year 2016 has seen at least two significant players exiting / considering to exit the biosimilars domain in favour of their other priorities. In the months following the Shire- Baxalta merger, Shire returned the rights to two biosimilars that
34 BioVoiceNews | March 2017