The report is split into sections to fully describe current biosimilar trends in the US. These are: the current state of the marketplace, trends of different therapeutics, key considerations for providers, payers, employers and patients, reimbursement, policy considerations and biosimilars in review.

The first biosimilar was launched in the US in 2015. The report notes that, as of early 2020, 28 biosimilars have been approved in the US, and 18 have launched. In the last year (since the 2019 report), there has been a 65% increase in the number of approved biosimilars and a 157% increase in those available. In addition, in the US, a number of mechanisms to support biosimilar uptake are now in place. These include the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which has established a Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) and biosimilars payment rates which should support uptake and lead to healthcare savings. The report also highlights that US regulatory standards for biosimilar development, approval and establishment of interchangeability, are scientifically appropriate to protect patient safety and support confidence in them from providers and payers. These are key factors in a sustainable marketplace. Although financial savings are a key driver for biosimilar uptake, manufacturer reputation for high quality and reliability are also important. Manufacturers should also have an understanding of clinical, economic and operational needs of providers and payers, together with knowledge of what drives their decisions.

Overall, the report highlights that biosimilar adoption is not the only way to measure their success. When many biosimilars are available, the price of them, and reference products, can be driven down, which also demonstrates the success of biosimilars in terms of providing healthcare savings and creating more sustainable healthcare services.

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Reference
1. Amgen Biosimilars. 2020 Biosimilar Trends Report [homepage on the Internet]. [cited 2020 Nov 20]. Available from: https://www.amgenbiosimilars.com/-/media/Themes/Amgen/amgenbiosimilars-com/Amgenbiosimilars-com/pdf/USA-CBU-80723-2020-Amgen-Biosimilar-Trends-Report.pdf

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