Biologicals currently account for 27% of pharmaceutical sales in Europe, with growth of 5.5% versus total pharmaceutical market growth of 1.9% in sales value between 2012 and 2013. In fact, of the top 10 best-selling drugs in Europe, only two are non-biologicals, see Table 1.

Table 1: Top 10 best-selling drugs in Europe 2013

The patents on all of these biological blockbusters will have expired in Europe by 2022. For just these eight molecules, this will open up around US$63 billion in sales to competition from biosimilars [2].

Biosimilars have been approved in the European Union since 2006 in the classes of erythropoietin (EPO), human growth hormone (HGH), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF). Despite this fact, biosimilar uptake varies widely between countries and therapy areas.

The IMS Health report found that biosimilar penetration for HGH ranged from a low of 2% of the available market in Norway to a high of 99% in Poland. EPO biosimilar penetration ranged from 1% in Croatia to 62% in Bulgaria. G-CSF biosimilar penetration was the lowest in Belgium with a 2% share of the available market and highest, with nearly 100% share of the accessible market, in Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania. Similarly, large differences in biosimilar penetration were observed between therapy areas within countries, for example, in Sweden biosimilar HGH has an 18% share of the volume while biosimilar G-CSF has an 81% share.

The report concludes that differences in the use of biosimilars are not just explained by epidemiology and disease factors, but reflect local adoption of treatment practices and guidelines influenced by funding decisions and payer actions. This highlights the need for physician education and introduction of national policies to increase the use of biosimilars.

Related articles
Germany wants to increase biosimilars penetration

UK biosimilars uptake lower than in some other EU countries

Use of biosimilars in Europe

References
1.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. US$67 billion worth of biosimilar patents expiring before 2020 [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Nov 14]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/US-67-billion-worth-of-biosimilar-patents-expiring-before-2020 
2.   GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Top 8 blockbuster biologicals 2013 [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2014 Nov 14]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Top-8-blockbuster-biologicals-2013 

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