Value of Biosimilars

Following the entry of biosimilars into the market, and the subsequent reduction in the cost of treatment, in June 2021 the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued revised guidelines and recommended the use of biologic therapies to a broader range of patients living with RA. The additional group included people living with moderate RA. Around 25,000 extra people with moderate RA who haven’t responded to conventional therapies are expected to benefit from these recommendations and access helpful treatment earlier in their treatment pathway.

_{Reference: Institute of Management Services. Delivering on the Promise of Biosimilar Medicines: The Role of Functioning Competitive Markets [online]. Available from: https://www.medicinesforeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMS-Insti… Accessed July 2022} 

The funding of a biosimilar brand and approval for its use by Medsafe (the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority) is enabling more individuals with cancers and inflammatory conditions to be treated each year and freeing up a limited budget to fund other medicines.

_{Reference: https://pharmac.govt.nz/medicine-funding-and-supply/medicine-notices/ri… Accessed November 2022}

An estimated 1.2 million US patients could gain access to biologics by 2025 as a result of increasing biosimilar availability. 
 
_{Reference: The Biosimilars Council. Biosimilars in the United States: Providing More Patients Greater Access to Lifesaving Medicines. Available at: http://biosimilarscouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Biosimilars-Co….} 

Biosimilars give more people the opportunity to access biologic therapies. For example, after the introduction of biosimilars in Germany, the number of daily therapy doses of an anti-TNF medicine increased by 29% (from 17.18 to 22.18 million) while costs fell by 11%. 

_{Reference: Zusammenfassung_MundiCare_Biosimilarstudie_Maerz-2021.pdf (probiosimilars.de) Accessed November 2022} 

In a hospital, patients with inflammatory bowel disease were switched to a biosimilar, which generated savings that were reinvested into the health system to streamline procedures and increase staff support.  As a result, patients experienced shorter wait times, improved pre-delivery procedures and a more efficient care pathway. 

_{Reference: ESNO. Switch Management between similar biological medicines. Available from https://www.esno.org/assets/files/biosimilar-nurses-guideline-final_EN-…. Accessed November 2022}

Before the launch of biosimilars, a supportive care for cancer could only be administered to patients after the consent of three physicians. Because of the reduction of the treatment costs due to biosimilar competition, the authorities relaxed the restrictions on prescribing, requiring consent from only one physician. This resulted in a 500% increased use of the treatment. 

_{Reference: ESNO. Switch Management between similar biological medicines. Available from https://www.esno.org/assets/files/biosimilar-nurses-guideline-final_EN-…. Accessed November 2022}

Patient access to biosimilar anti-TNF treatments has expanded by 15% in 2020.

_{Reference: IQVIA Spotlight on Biosimilars in Europe 2021 (Spotlight on Biosimilars - IQVIA) Accessed November 2022}

Biologics uptake has historically been low, partly due to cost. However, these countries have seen significant uptake of biologic medicines once biosimilar versions have become available.

_{Reference: Institute of Management Services. Delivering on the Promise of Biosimilar Medicines: The Role of Functioning Competitive Markets [online]. Available from: https://www.medicinesforeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/IMS-Insti… Accessed November 2022} 

Proportion of Rheumatoid Arthritis patients starting biologics treatment has increased from 10% (June 2017) to 80% (June 2021), due to strong improvement of treatment initiation mainly driven by biosimilar gain-sharing measures.

^{Reference: https://assurance-maladie.ameli.fr/sites/default/files/2022-07_rapport-… p297 Accessed July 2022}

In Italy biosimilar adoption increased by 26.9% more in 2021 than 2020, making up 43% of the total reference market. This was also due to national and regional guidelines promoting the value of biosimilars to increase access to biologic treatments for those eligible for this kind of therapy.

_{Reference: Egualia report 3090.html (egualia.it) Accessed November 2022} 

In Brazil in 2013, the National Therapeutic Guidelines for Psoriasis​ didn’t recommend any biologic drug for the treatment of psoriasis (all anti-TNFs were approved for this indication at the time)​. By 2020, four biosimilar treatment options were recommended following approval.​

_{Reference: Ministério da Saúde, Brasil. Protocolo Clínico e Diretrizes Terapêuticas – Psoríase (2013)​
Ministério da Saúde, Brasil. Protocolo Clínico e Diretrizes Terapêuticas – Psoríase (2020)}

By 2024, savings for the Spanish Health Care System attributed to biosimilar implementation since 2007 are expected to reach a cumulative total of €12bn.

_{Reference: IQVIA Spain hospital data from 2007 to 2021; Tendering data; IQVIA analysis.​}