WHAT cost savings will biosimilar medicines bring to healthcare systems?
The improved affordability of healthcare that could result from the use of biosimilar medicines is real. It has been estimated that a 20% reduction on six off-patent, or soon-to-be off-patent, biopharmaceuticals would save the EU over €1.6 billion. The price differential between a reference product and a biosimilar medicine will depend on the relative development costs. Biosimilar medicines can be expected to be offered at a price below that of the reference product, partly as a result of production process efficiencies, and partly because of the reduced costs of a streamlined development programme. The greatest savings are likely to result from the clinical trial programme, since a biosimilar medicine (containing a well-known and well-used substance) would require less clinical data to support its approval. This price differential should lead to a significant and much-needed release of healthcare funds.
The improved affordability of healthcare that could result from the use of biosimilar medicines is real. It has been estimated that a 20% reduction on six off-patent, or soon-to-be off-patent, biopharmaceuticals would save the EU over €1.6 billion. The price differential between a reference product and a biosimilar medicine will depend on the relative development costs. Biosimilar medicines can be expected to be offered at a price below that of the reference product, partly as a result of production process efficiencies, and partly because of the reduced costs of a streamlined development programme. The greatest savings are likely to result from the clinical trial programme, since a biosimilar medicine (containing a well-known and well-used substance) would require less clinical data to support its approval. This price differential should lead to a significant and much-needed release of healthcare funds. This price differential should lead significant and much-needed release of healthc
