20 June 2018 - Specialty biologics are currently the biggest driver of pharmaceutical cost growth. In the U.S., nine patents for the top 20 selling biologics are set to expire by 2020. 

Given that biosimilars are cheaper than the originator biologics, more use of biosimilars will lead to cost savings. But, thus far biosimilars have failed to gain widespread traction.

It would appear that four distinctly American features of the biosimilars market have limited uptake. First, in the U.S. there has been a relatively slow regulatory process. Second, originator companies have honed their patent litigation and preemptive competition skills. Third, thus far, not a single biosimilar has been designated as being therapeutically interchangeable which has impeded diffusion. Fourth, until now there has not been a systematic effort at educating physicians and patients who are concerned about biosimilar safety and efficacy.

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