Reports
New and upcoming biosimilars launches in the US
This article provides a summary of newly approved biosimilars and an update on the biosimilar pipeline and those biosimilars in the approval process.
CNMC study on the wholesale medicines market in Spain: biosimilar medicines
The National Commission for Markets and Competition (Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia, CNMC), the body that promotes and preserves the proper functioning of all markets in the interest of consumers and businesses in Spain, published on 22 June 2022 a study on the regulation of medicine prices in the country, which analyses its main problems and puts forward several recommendations to improve the functioning of the sector, including that of biosimilars, for the benefit of consumers and public health. The research focused on medicines sold through pharmacies.
Challenges of biosimilar medicines in France
After reviewing the key figures [1] and the incentive measures [2] to promote the use of biosimilars in France, Nadia Amer, speaker at BIOS 22 and Health Economics Analyst at Health Product Department of CNAM, presented the challenges that are faced and that leave still much room for improvement for biosimilar uptake in France [3].
Incentives promoting use of biosimilar medicines in France
During the presentation at BIOS 22, speaker Nadia Amer described the key figures of biosimilar medicines in France [1], and addressed the incentive measures promoting the use of biosimilar drugs, which have been implemented in France, mostly since 2018 [2].
Key figures of biosimilar medicines in France
At the online session of BIOS 22, Biosimilar medicines: changing patient care pathways, changing outcomes, speaker Nadia Amer, Health Economist Analyst at the Health Product Department in the Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie (CNAM) in France, delivered a presentation based on concrete examples and experiences of biosimilar medicines in France [1].
PBM practices lead US consumers to overpay for generics by 20%
Consumers in the US are overpaying for generics medicines by as much as 20%, a University of Southern California study reports [1]. The white paper calls for transparency across the generic prescription drug supply chain and policies to increase competition and stop anti-competitive practices.
Approaches to streamline biosimilar interchangeable programmes
Dr Yow-Ming Wang provided welcoming remarks during the biosimilars webinar hosted by the University of Maryland Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (M-CERSI) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Brazilian market of biosimilars
As the largest country in South America, Brazil is an important market for the pharmaceutical industry, but the biosimilars still represent less than 2% of the total biological drug market in the country [1].
China–EU market expansion for biosimilars
Hao J stated that the prospects for biosimilar sales in China are huge, but there are many companies in the market battling for share, and so they are slowly turning in the direction of sales abroad, including the European Union (EU). However, in entering the EU they must go up against many large and well-established biopharmaceutical companies. She said that ultimately market share will go to the most efficient and economical producers [1].
Challenges for Chinese companies to bring biosimilars (copy biologicals) to EU
A presentation by Dr Jenny Hao, a pharma operating partner with Converge Partners at the Festival of Biologics meeting in Basel, Switzerland in November 2021, highlights the interest Chinese biosimilars producers have in Europe and the challenges they face.
