Biosimilars have been on the market since 2006 and are already present in many countries worldwide, see Table 1 [2].

Table 1: Biosimiars market entry onto multiple countries

EPO: erythropoietin; G-CSF: granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; HGH: human growth hormone
Source: IMS Health

The first biosimilars approved were human growth hormone, followed by erythropoietin (EPO) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).

Global sales of biosimilars have more than doubled each year since 2007, and had reached more than US$234 million in 2010, see Figure 1. EPOs take the major share of the market with sales of US$93 million, followed by G-CSF (US$75 million) and human growth hormone (US$67 million). Despite the dominance of EPOs, Sandoz’s Omnitrope—a human growth hormone—is still the largest selling biosimilar, with global sales in 2010 of US$66 million.

Figure 1: Global biosimilar sales of EPO, G-CSF and HGH

EPOs: erythropoietins; G-CSF: granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; HGH: human growth hormone
Source: IMS Health

The biosimilars market is clearly experiencing rapid growth and looks set to reach IMS’s predictions exceeding US$2 billion annually by 2015.

Related articles

The market for global and European biosimilars

Biosimilars and the pharmaceutical industry

Biobetters rather than biosimilars

References

1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Generics and biosimilars to drive down drug spending [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2011 September 23]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Pharma-News/Generics-and-biosimilars-to-drive-down-drug-spending

2. Sheppard A. Biological/Biotechnological and Biosimilars market: the global outlook. 9th EGA International Symposium on Biosimilar Medicines; 2011 Apr 14; London, UK.