Oncology supportive care
Oncology supportive care is the most mature US biosimilar category. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Granix in 2012, though not under the pathway created by the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 (BPCI Act). Zarxio was the first biosimilar approved under the 351(k) pathway (in 2015), and also the first biosimilar to become commercially available (also in 2015).
The biosimilars available for oncology supportive care consist of pegfilgrastim, filgrastim and epoetin alfa.
Pegfilgrastim
The pegfilgrastim originator is Neulasta. All three biosimilars of pegfilgrastim were launched with a wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) and acquisition sales price (ASP) below that of Neulasta. The ASP of all pegfilgrastim products, including the reference, have declined since the launch of the first biosimilar, see Figure 1.
Figure 1: ASP of pegfilgrastim products at biosimilars launches
*Q2’20 sales data through July 3, 2020; monthly rollup based on 4-4-5 calendar.
Biosimilar WAC price used for comparing against reference product ASP until biosimilar ASP is available.
ASP: average sales price.
Source: Analysource.
Pegfilgrastim biosimilars now account for nearly 30% of sales by volume. The uptake trends of other biosimilars (as described in [1]) show the first biosimilar capturing the majority biosimilars market share. In contrast, with pegfilgrastim, it is the second to launch, Udencia, that held the largest biosimilar market share (21% of total market) when this market trend report was compiled. The first to launch, Fulphila, held just 6%, Ziextenzo launched in late 2019 and held 1%.
Fulphila, Ziextenzo and Udenyca were approved in the US in June 2018 [2], November 2019 [3] and October 2016 [4], respectively. A recent Nyvepria (pegfilgrastim-apgf) has been approved in June 2020 [5]
Filgrastim
Th filgrastim originator is Neupogen. Two filgrastim biosimilars have launched since 2015, and both with a lower WAC and ASP than Neupogen. In addition, in 2013, Granix was launched which is not a biosimilar of filgrastim as it was approved with a Food and Drugs Association (FDA) Biologics License Application prior to the enactment of the biosimilar approval pathway. Granix launched at lower WAC and ASP than the originator, but the first biosimilar to launch, Zarxio, launched at WAC and ASP lower than Neupogen, but higher than Granix. The second biosimilar to launch, Nivestym, launched at WAC below all its predecessors. However, its ASP was below the originator but above the other competitor products at time of launch, see Figure 2.
Figure 2: ASP of filgrastim products at biosimilars launches
*Q2’20 sales data through July 3, 2020; monthly rollup based on 4-4-5 calendar.
†NEUPOGEN®’s biosimilar price-response strategy focused on account-level provider contracting.
This targeted approach modestly increased the ASP-eligible discount rate, resulting in a more stable ASP trend.
‡GRANIX is not a biosimilar. It was approved under a full Biologics License Application, which was
submitted to the FDA before enactment of the biosimilar approval pathway.
Biosimilar WAC price used for comparing against reference product ASP until biosimilar ASP is available.
ASP: average sales price.
Since the launch of Granix in 2013 its ASP has decreased by 51%. The two biosimilars also reduced significantly by the first quarter of 2020, whereas the ASP of Neupogen has remained relatively stable.
Filgrastim biosimilars uptake has been high and in early 2020, Neupogen held a market share of just 28%, whereas the biosimilar Zarxio held 48%.
Zarxio (filgrastim-sndz) was the first product approved in the US as a biosimilar in 2015 [6], and Nivestym (filgrastim-aafi) was approved in the US in July 2018 [7].
Nephrology/oncology supportive care
Epoetin alfa
There are two epoetin alfa reference products, Epogen and Procrit. These are the same molecule, marketed by different companies in separate therapeutic areas. They have different WACs but the same ASP. There has been the launch of one biosimilar, Retacrit, at a lower WAC and ASP than both references. Since the biosimilar’s launch, both its ASP and that of the reference products have decreased significantly, see Figure 3.
Figure 3: ASP of epoetin alfa products at biosimilars launch
*Q2’20 sales data through July 3, 2020; monthly rollup based on 4-4-5 calendar.
Biosimilar WAC price used for comparing against reference product ASP until biosimilar ASP is available.
ASP: average sales price.
Source: Analysource.
Prior to the launch of Retacrit epoetin alfa biosimilar approved in May 2018 in the US [8], Epogen held the majority share of approximately 60%. Following its launch, Epogen’s share has remained stable. However, Retacrit’s share has increased up to 25% with that of the other reference, Procrit reducing from approximately 40% to 18%.
Inflammation
Anti-inflammatory biologicals make up three of top six best-selling biologicals – with Remicade (infliximab) being the third best-selling anti-inflammatory – which may lead to significant cost-saving opportunities for biosimilars in this class.
Infliximab
The originator infliximab product is Remicade. There have been three biosimilars launched, Inflectra, Renflexis and Avsola, each at a lower WAC than Remicade. Renflexis launched at a lower ASP than Remicade, however Inflectra and Avsola launched at a higher ASP. Further details can be seen in Figure 4.
Figure 4: WAC and ASP of infliximab biosimilars relative to reference product at launch
*ASP not available for these products at time of comparison. WAC price is used to compare with reference product ASP.
ASP: average sales price; WAC: wholesale acquisition cost.
Source: Analysource.
When it comes to the percentage change in ASP over time as compared to the originator, although Inflectra launched at a higher ASP, this soon fell below that of Remicade. The ASPs of Remicade, Inflectra and Renflexis have all reduced significantly over time. At the time that the report was compiled there was no data on Avsola.
The uptake of infliximab biosimilars has been slower than for other biosimilar products. At the time of report compilation, Inflectra and Renflexis had gained a market share of 10% by volume.
Avsola (infliximab-axxq), Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb), Ixifi (infliximab-qbtx) and Renflexis (infliximab-abda) were approved in the US in December 2019 [9], May 2018 [10], December 2017 [11] and April 2017 [12], respectively.
Related articles
The US biosimilars market in 2020
Amgen 1 Biosimilars trend report 2020
US biosimilars pipeline for supportive care, oncology and TNF inhibitors
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References
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2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. FDA approval for pegfilgrastim biosimilar Fulphila [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Dec 11]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/FDA-approval-for-pegfilgrastim-biosimilar-Fulphila
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. FDA approves pegfilgrastim biosimilar Ziextenzo [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Dec 11]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/FDA-approves-pegfilgrastim-biosimilar-Ziextenzo
4. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. FDA approves adalimumab and pegfilgrastim biosimilars [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Dec 11]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/FDA-approves-adalimumab-and-pegfilgrastim-biosimilars
5. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. FDA approves pegfilgrastim biosimilar Nyvepria [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2020 Dec 11]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/News/FDA-approves-pegfilgrastim-biosimilar-Nyvepria
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