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Assessment of the impact of biosimilars on the pricing and market share of their reference biologics

Assessment of the impact of biosimilars on the pricing and market share of their reference biologics

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Biosimilars are similar but not identical copies of biologic drugs, which are made using living cells and are used to treat a range of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. The introduction of biosimilars has created a significant impact on the pricing and market share of their reference biologics. One of the most significant impacts of biosimilars on reference biologics is on their pricing. Biosimilars are typically priced lower than their reference biologics, which makes them an attractive option for patients and healthcare providers looking to reduce healthcare costs

As manufacturers attempt to compete with the reduced prices of biosimilars, the introduction of biosimilars to the market has resulted in a decrease in the cost of reference biologics. This reduction in prices has resulted in significant cost savings for patients and healthcare systems. But this may not be the case always as twelve biosimilars of Humira are expected to enter the market this year, it appears improbable that they will result in a reduction in drug costs. The unlikelihood of reducing drug costs in the future is mainly due to competing firms in the biosimilar market, as well as a few other barriers.

  • With $21 billion in annual global sales and uses for treating rheumatoid arthritis among other illnesses, Humira, made by AbbVie, is the highest-grossing medication ever as of 2021. The annual cost of the medication for a patient and their insurance frequently approaches $80,000.
  • Despite the fact that AbbVie's Humira patent expired in 2016, legal issues prevented biosimilars from entering the market until agreements were achieved to enable the marketing of Humira biosimilars in 2023.
  • AbbVie is going to raise their rebate above their current range for Humira's net cost after discount in order to stay on top of market competition and maintain preferred position on most PBM formularies as rival biosimilars enter the market. To keep all three medications in a favoured position on formularies, they will also probably raise rebates for Skyrizi and Rinvoq.
  • Apart from this biosimilars also have the potential to capture a significant market share of their reference biologics, especially in countries where the use of biosimilars is encouraged by regulatory bodies and healthcare systems.
  • As of 2023, the largest market share in biosimilars is held by the United States, followed by Europe and then Asia. The United States has the largest biosimilar market share due to its favorable regulatory environment and the high demand for biosimilar drugs to treat a variety of chronic diseases. Europe also has a significant market share in biosimilars due to its well-established regulatory framework and healthcare system, which encourages the use of biosimilars to reduce healthcare costs. In Asia, countries like Japan, South Korea, and India are emerging as key players in the biosimilar market due to their growing pharmaceutical industries and increasing adoption of biosimilars.

As biosimilars gain wider acceptance and become more accessible, their market share is likely to increase further, potentially leading to a decline in the market share of reference biologics. However, the impact of biosimilars on the market share of reference biologics may not be universal. Some factors, such as the level of competition in the market, the availability of biosimilars, and the strength of the brand, can influence the impact of biosimilars on the market share of reference biologics. In some cases, reference biologics may continue to dominate the market even after the introduction of biosimilars.

It is worth noting that the impact of biosimilars on the pricing and market share of their reference biologics is not limited to the pharmaceutical industry. The introduction of biosimilars has created significant cost savings for patients and healthcare systems, which has led to a shift in healthcare spending towards biosimilars. This shift in spending has the potential to impact the revenue streams of pharmaceutical companies, as biosimilars compete with their reference biologics.

BioIntel360 suggests that the introduction of biosimilars has created a significant impact on the pricing and market share of their reference biologics. Biosimilars are priced lower than their reference biologics, which has led to cost savings for patients and healthcare systems. Biosimilars also have the potential to capture a significant market share of their reference biologics, which can impact the revenue streams of pharmaceutical companies. As the use of biosimilars becomes more widespread, the impact of biosimilars on the pricing and market share of their reference biologics is likely to become even more significant.

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