An editorial entitled ‘Tenders for Generics and Biosimilars: A Challenging Purchasing Policy’ has been published in the European Journal of Health Economics [1]. It is authored by Fernando Antoñanzas, Carmelo Juárez-Castelló, and Roberto Rodríguez-Ibeas from the University of Rioja in Spain and discusses the challenges associated with the implementation of tendering processes for generics and biosimilars in healthcare purchasing policies.
The authors highlight that tendering, which involves the competitive bidding for the supply of pharmaceutical products, has gained popularity as a cost-containment strategy in healthcare systems. Specifically, tendering for generics and biosimilars aims to increase competition and drive down prices, ultimately reducing healthcare expenditure.
Antoñanzas et al. emphasize that while tendering has the potential to achieve significant cost savings, it also poses several challenges. One of the main challenges is the potential for a decrease in product quality due to the focus on price competition. Lower prices may lead to manufacturers compromising on quality, which can have negative implications for patient safety and treatment effectiveness.
The authors also discuss the complex nature of generics and biosimilars, highlighting the importance of ensuring therapeutic equivalence and quality standards. Unlike generics, which are chemically identical to their reference products, biosimilars are highly similar but not identical to the reference biologics. Thus, ensuring efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity is crucial when considering biosimilars in tendering processes.
Furthermore, Antoñanzas et al. addresses the issue of market consolidation, where tendering may lead to a reduced number of suppliers. While consolidation can drive down prices, it can also result in limited market competition, potentially leading to monopolistic practices and reduced availability of pharmaceutical products.
The authors also discuss the potential impact of tendering on innovation. Tendering may incentivize manufacturers to prioritize price competitiveness over research and development investments. This could potentially hinder the introduction of innovative therapies and limit patient access to novel treatments.
Furthermore, there is a need for careful consideration and evaluation of tendering processes. Healthcare policymakers should strike a balance between achieving cost savings and ensuring the availability, qualityand innovation of pharmaceutical products.
In conclusion, the authors underline the challenges associated with tendering for generics and biosimilars in healthcare purchasing policies. While tendering has the potential to drive down prices and reduce healthcare expenditure, it also raises concerns about product quality, market consolidation, and potential impacts on innovation. Policymakers must carefully navigate these challenges to implement tendering processes that maximize cost savings while maintaining patient safety, treatment effectiveness, and access to innovative therapies.
Related articles
Medicare drug price negotiation: implications
Best-value biological selection making: more to consider than only price
Call for drug pricing transparency
Price controls, competition and tendering for biosimilars
|
LATIN AMERICAN FORUM
The new section of the ‘Latin American Forum’ on GaBI has been launched. The objective of this new section is to provide you with all the latest news and updates on developments of generic and biosimilar medicines in Latin America in Spanish. View the latest headline article: Declaración conjunta sobre biosimilares en enfermedades inmunomediadas en España Browse the news in the Latin American Forum! Register to receive the GaBI Latin American Forum newsletter. Inform colleagues and friends of this new initiative.
FORO LATINOAMERICANO
Se ha lanzado la nueva sección del ‘Foro Latinoamericano’ sobre GaBI. El objetivo de esta nueva sección es brindarle las últimas noticias y actualizaciones sobre desarrollos de medicamentos genéricos y biosimilares en América Latina en español. Ver el último artículo de cabecera: Declaración conjunta sobre biosimilares en enfermedades inmunomediadas en España !Explore las noticias en el Foro Latinoamericano! Regístrese para recibir el boletín informativo GaBI Foro Latinoamericano. Informe a colegas y amigos sobre esta nueva iniciativa.
|
Reference
1. Antoñanzas F, Juárez-Castelló C, Rodríguez-Ibeas R. Eur J Health Econ. 2023;24(4):485-7.
Permission granted to reproduce for personal and non-commercial use only. All other reproduction, copy or reprinting of all or part of any ‘Content’ found on this website is strictly prohibited without the prior consent of the publisher. Contact the publisher to obtain permission before redistributing.
Copyright – Unless otherwise stated all contents of this website are © 2023 Pro Pharma Communications International. All Rights Reserved.
0
Post your comment