You cannot be in the pharmaceutical arena and not notice the buzz around biosimilars. The zeitgeist is gradually turning its gaze towards them and everyone from the major producers through to health care providers is looking to biosimilars as a viable option for treatment of a range of conditions. As with all developments of this sort though there can be a general mix of chatter and misinformation, high-level technical discussion, practical application and of course, compliance and legislative procedures, to muddy the waters. The impact of biosimilar technology is not in doubt, what that will mean in relation to health industries and the wider landscape of care in general is another discussion entirely.
Just to recap for the sake of completeness, biosimilars have been around for many years but they are experiencing a noticeable growth in visibility at the moment. This is at least partially down to increased acceptance of their use. But the main driver is the gradual releasing of the restriction on production because of expiring patents. Where the option becomes available to produce a biosimilar to replace the original biological product, interested stakeholders in medical production are moving to capitalise on the opportunities provided by expiring patents. In short, a plethora of medicines, vaccines and other treatments are currently being, or already have been, developed and this is going to impact on treatment options.
The bigger picture on biosimilars
Undoubtedly the biggest impact access to biosimilar products will have in the short term will be the reduction of cost of care. Simply put, they are cheaper to put on the prescription pad than their biological counterparts. Lower costs are attractive in any environment but for the NHS, beleaguered by cuts and the cost of a recent pandemic, anything that produces relief on the bottom line will be more than welcome. The same is true of private care providers.
Since biologicals are frequent contributors to on-going care of long term and critical conditions, the impact of lower-cost biosimilar options is certainly impressive financially speaking. In fact, the overall financial impact of the emergence of these treatments can be counted in millions, and potentially in the billions. According to the US think tank RAND, in 2017 the expected introduction of biosimilars to replace the frequently prescribed complex biologicals, could amount to over $50billion in the US market alone. Extrapolate that number in relation to other regions and the cost reductions are staggering.
With all talk of money aside what do biosimilars mean to healthcare in general? Well, firstly, as we all recognise, putting all talk of money aside is really not possible in healthcare. Keeping the nation in good health and treating those who are suffering is a costly business. For a care provider such as the NHS reducing the cost of treatment or effective medication of a range of conditions is not currently an option due to the requirement for biological medicines. Biosimilars doing the same work for less should literally translate into more choice of treatment options. (NHS England Reference Information) This is going to become increasingly true pretty much across the spectrum of the treatment chain. From GP surgeries through to critical care, biosimilars are increasing options and reducing costs. For patents, a biosimilar option means not just a steady and cogent treatment cycle, it could mean access to a range of possible remedial and curative medication.
Opportunities and obstacles for biosimilars
Medical professionals are used to prescribing complex biologicals and the bottom line is that they know they work. As with any change in the medical world, moving to a new practice is more a gentle swell than a tidal wave. Faith in the treatments and familiarity with appropriate brands will require time to develop as it does with any other change in care regime. However, the promise of low cost, effective treatment is bringing biosimilars to the fore. As their popularity increases the opportunities for career growth go hand in hand. To put that into perspective the NHS has a target of 80% uptake of new options as they become available. Westminster also has a very positive view of the ongoing potential for biosimilars to be adopted into future healthcare options. In 2019, then Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Access to Medicines and Medical Devices, Anne Marie Morris, MP, considered access to biosimilar medicines as a ‘big issue’. She went on to express her view that these treatments needed to be developed in the UK.
However, while the future of biosimilars is certainly rosy, as we have already mentioned, the path to common use of new treatments can be a slow one. While the aim of providing access to the best clinical care and the newest treatments is a laudable one, the practicalities of dissemination of the appropriate resources and information are as formidable as ever. With so much white noise competing for the attention of clinicians and other interested parties, and the continued impact of ongoing virus control measures, attracting the gaze of medical professionals is understandably difficult.
That said, the change to widespread utilisation of new biosimilars over a decade after the initial awareness of their existence is bound to become an easier process. The NHS is clearly invested in their use and the medical professions recognise their clinical value. As the patents expire, the awareness grows, and the official push to use them spreads from Westminster down. It would take a major change for anything to stop the rise of the biosimilar. As the industry surrounding the research, testing, production, and distribution of this exciting area grows it should offer nothing but increased patient choices, wider treatment options and effective medical care. To add the cream to this, it will offer all of these at a price tag that will potentially release much-needed funds for research and care programmes. The bright future of biosimilars then is truly just on the horizon.