Estimated patent expiry dates for just some of the best-selling biological molecules are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Expiry dates for major patents on best-selling biologicals

* EU provides 10 years of data exclusivity, US BPCI Act provides 12 years exclusivity; ** In the UK. Other major EU markets follow on 28 August 2015.
Source: GaBI Online (www.gabionline.net), Sheppard et al. [1], Bernstein Research [2]

The expiration of patents and other intellectual property rights for originator biologicals over the next decade opens up opportunities for biosimilars to enter the market and increase industry competition. Price reduction strategies should increased adoption among physicians and patients alike, spurring increases in the biosimilars market share.

The biosimilars market earned revenue of approximately US$172 million in 2010, according to Frost and Sullivan. However, despite estimates that the market will reach approximately US$3,987 million by 2017, the biosimilars industry is not for the faint hearted. Considerable investment is required to manufacture and get a biosimilar to market, and with such complex molecules failure can occur at any stage of the development. Despite this, with a compound annual growth rate of 56.7% expected from 2010 to 2017 many companies – both originator and generics alike – are finding the sector hard to resist.

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References

1.  Sheppard A, Iervolino A. Biosimilars: about to leap? 10th EGA International Symposium on Biosimilar Medicines; 2012 April 19; London, UK.

2.  Gal R. Biosimilars: Reviewing US Law and US/EU Patents; Bottom Up Model Suggests 12 Products and $7-$8B Market by 2020. Bernstein Research. 26 May 2011.

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