How to increase the uptake of biosimilars is an important issue both in Europe and across the world. Europe, via its centralized European Medicines Agency (EMA), has been very successful in approving biosimilars. There are currently 73 biosimilars approved in Europe, almost all of which were marketed immediately after approval [1]. Despite the success in approving and marketing biosimilars, the uptake of biosimilars does vary between different countries in Europe. To encourage the use of biosimilars, targets and incentives have been used across Europe [2]. However, pricing can also play an important role and was investigated by Josep Maria Guiu Segura and Antoni Gilabert Perramon [3].
The public purchasing of medicines plays an important role in reducing any potential risk of shortages through the inclusion of different bidders and ensures the existence of competition between the different holders of commercialization licenses.
According to the authors, decisions to purchase biosimilars must incorporate additional criteria beyond price, thereby fostering the provision of added value in the care process. In addition, the regulation of prices and financing of medicines should encourage manufacturers of reference biologicals and biosimilars to continue innovating. At the same time, it should establish a pricing policy that balances the savings objective for health systems and guarantees market interest in the development and authorization of biosimilars in the long term.
Appropriate pricing is just one of several measures that can be used to increase the use of biosimilars, which in turn increases access to affordable and often life-saving medicines.
Conflict of interest
The authors of the paper [3] declared that there was no conflict of interest.
Abstracted by Dr Josep Maria Guiu Segura, Hospital Pharmacist, Consortium of Health and Social Care of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
Editor’s comment
Readers interested to learn more about biosimilar policies are invited to visit www.gabi-journal.net to view the following manuscript published in GaBI Journal:
Local policies on biosimilars: are they designed to optimize use of liberated resources?
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References
1. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Biosimilars approved in Europe [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Jun 25]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Biosimilars/General/Biosimilars-approved-in-Europe
2. GaBI Online - Generics and Biosimilars Initiative. Uptake of biosimilars in different countries varies [www.gabionline.net]. Mol, Belgium: Pro Pharma Communications International; [cited 2021 Jun 25]. Available from: www.gabionline.net/Reports/Uptake-of-biosimilars-in-different-countries-varies
3. Guiu Segura JM, Gilabert Perramon A. Biosimilar drugs: Measures to promote their use. Med Clin (Barc). 2020;154(4):148.
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