The presentation, which was given by Doug Long of IQVIA at the AAM 2021 Annual Meeting, outlined how the US biologicals market continues to grow faster than non-biologicals on an invoice-basis and that it now comprises 43% of spending in the US. In fact, between 2015 and 2019 the US biologicals market grew by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.6% compared to the total medicines CAGR of 6.1% and for small molecules of 1.6%. Despite this, small molecules still accounted for the majority of the US$493 billion spent on medicines in the US in 2019: 57% compared to 43% for biologicals.

However, this may change in the future as molecules with biosimilars in the US now total US$40 billion of invoice spending, while biosimilar development is targeting a further US$67 billion, see Figure 1.

Figure 1: 2019 US biologicals market, including biosimilar competition, development and market exclusivity

Source: Biosimilars in the US: Competition, savings and sustainability. Report by the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science.

In fact, up to September 2021 there have been 29 approvals across 13 molecules [2], although only 18 have so far been launched in the country [3]. In addition, there are a further 108 biosimilars in development across 22 other molecules. This gives a total for biosimilars launched, approved or in development of 35 different molecules, see Figure 2.

Figure 2: Biosimilars approved, launched or in development by molecule

Source: Biosimilars in the US: Competition, savings and sustainability. Report by the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science.
Note: Biologicals arranged decreasing order according to US spending in 2019.

Currently, 13% of biosimilars in development are being developed by six large pharma companies. The remaining 87% are being developed by 41 smaller companies with varying degrees of biological or biosimilar development experience. For biosimilars marketed in the US, 14 were developed and launched by seven large pharma companies.

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References
1. IQVIA. Biosimilars in the US 2020-2024: Competition, savings and sustainability. Report by the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science. 29 September 2020.
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars approved in the US [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Oct 15]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/Biosimilars-approved-in-the-US
3. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilar approvals and launches in the US [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Oct 15]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/biosimilars/general/Biosimilar-approvals-and-launches-in-the-US

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