Report Identifies Market Opportunity for Emerging Biosimilars

A new report says that experts expect the available market for biosimilar manufacturers seeking to compete with original reference biologics coming off patent between late 2018 and 2023 to be "very considerable indeed, both in Europe and in the US." However, the report, Competitive Entry from Owen Mumford Pharmaceutical Services (Oxford, UK), adds that even where healthcare regulators, managers and clinicians encourage adoption of biosimilars as appropriate for the patient, there remain some important issues to be tackled to tap into this potential. Specifically, these issues are clinical confidence in the biosimilar; competitive pricing of drugs through greater competition; and patient confidence in the drug delivery device may present an obstacle to adoption or switching.   This study reveals the size of the near-term opportunity in competitive biosimilars markets for biologics coming off patent 2018-2023, and offers evidence that device design is a key differentiator in addressing patient adoption. In Europe, the estimated market opportunity for this five-year cohort of patent expiries (factoring in competitive discounts and based on 50% market share) for biosimilar manufacturers is $3.12 billion per year based on current revenues. The equivalent market opportunity in the US comes to $5.24 billion per year.    Biosimilar producers will need to address the issue of drug delivery carefully, says the report. At the same time, healthcare systems across the world are favoring patient self-administration, in order to lighten the burden on hospitals and increase convenience for patients. As a result, precision dosing, ease of use, comfort, and convenience have become critically important in ensuring patient adherence to treatment.    A full copy of the Competitive Entry report can be acccessed at https://www.ompharmaservices.com/news-and-resources/competitive-entry/