Oncology Biosimilars Offer Cost-Efficient Solutions for Sustainable Health Care

Oncology biosimilars have emerged as a cost-effective and affordable alternative to their reference biologics, according to a study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology.

By the end of 2019, 262 biosimilar agents were approved in 40 countries, with nearly half targeting oncology, including 63 anticancer and 66 supportive care biosimilars. These products are pivotal in addressing the escalating costs of oncology treatments, ensuring sustainable health care delivery globally.

“To really promote uptake of biosimilars and achieve accessibility for patients, incorporating them into the reimbursement list of medical insurance is critical, which is generally on condition that they were assessed as cost-effective and within the health care budget in many settings,” the study authors stated.

A comprehensive global systematic review analyzed 17 studies assessing the pharmacoeconomic impact of oncology biosimilars. These studies, conducted in Europe and the US, primarily focused on anticancer monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and supportive biosimilars, such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). Results revealed that biosimilars consistently demonstrated cost savings. For instance, G-CSF biosimilars offered per-patient savings of $327 to $1221 per chemotherapy cycle, while mAb biosimilars showed lifetime savings ranging from $17 517 to $38 923 per patient.

Budget impact analyses (BIAs) further confirmed the affordability of biosimilars, estimating millions in annual savings for health care systems. Factors influencing cost savings included biosimilar uptake rates, price discounts, and patient volumes.

Despite their promise, challenges remain. Variability in cost-saving estimates highlights the need for robust data collection and transparency. Additionally, concerns about uptake and regulatory clarity persist. Nonetheless, all studies favor oncology biosimilars for their efficiency and affordability.

“More efforts should be enhanced in providing evidence for more diverse molecular types for oncology biosimilars across the world with long-term timeframe,” concluded the study authors.

Reference

Huang HY, Liu CC, Yu Y, et al. Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of cancer biosimilars worldwide: a systematic review. Front Pharmacol. 2020;11:572569. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.572569