27 April 2018 - Biosimilar experts from across the EU continued to show how rapidly biosimilars have gained market share, in contrast to US and Canadian markets.

Keith Ridge, chief pharmaceutical officer at NHS England, told attendees of the 16th annual Biosimilar Medicines Conference in London on Thursday that the UK has seen increasing uptake of rituximab, infliximab and etanercept biosimilars, particularly in London. For instance, a biosimilar for infliximab, which came to market in March 2015 is now used by about 80% of patients on the medicine in the UK.

The increasing uptake of the lower-cost alternatives to expensive biologics is important for the UK, Ridge noted, saying the government health service spends £17.4 billion ($24.3 billion) on medicines per year and that amount is growing. He noted that the incoming Humira (adalimumab) biosimilars, which are hitting the UK market this autumn, will save the country £100 million ($140 million) per year. In the US, by contrast, adalimumab biosimilars are expected in 2023.

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