Injectable biosimilars ‘hitting their stride’

After much anticipation, biosimilars are beginning to hit their stride, according to Greystone Research.

Unlike the generics sector, however, the complexities associated with the unique elements of every biosimilar relative to the brand biologic it seeks to compete with will continue to give the biosimilars segment a level of uncertainty that will foster a substantial element of risk for market participants.

Beyond regulatory approvals, a number of factors related to regional differences in the uptake of biosimilars must be factored into any multi-year forecast of the global injectable biosimilars market. Substitution and interchangeability, the rules for which also vary geographically, will ultimately by impacted by patient acceptance and caregiver confidence.

So far the market for injectable biosimilars has been led by the European Union and the EMA, the EU’s equivalent to the U.S. FDA. Based on the experience in this region, there are likely to be some therapeutic segments where multiple branded biosimilars produced by the same manufacturer compete for market share based on price, leading to even steeper declines in retail prescription costs than anticipated for unique biosimilars.

Detailed analysis of injectable biosimilars and their impact on the therapeutic drug sector is included in a new report. The report – Injectable Biosimilars to 2022 – analyses more than two dozen currently approved and expected injectable biosimilar products in eight important therapeutic segments and examines the impact of these products on regional drug markets.