Biosimilar Medicines Opportunity: Dramatic Increase in Patient Access across Europe

Date of release:  9 May 2017

The new report on The Impact of Biosimilar Competition in Europe highlights the visible benefits of biosimilar competition to increase patient access to highly innovative biological treatments. The new report was prepared by QuintilesIMS Health at the request of the European Commission with contributions from EFPIA, EuropaBio and Medicines for Europe.

Despite differences between countries, the overall trend in Europe is that biosimilar medicines are increasingly being used in medical practice and are increasing access to medicines for patients. Biosimilar competition in this high value market contributes to sustainable healthcare budgets. For many countries, especially in Eastern Europe, biosimilar medicines provide access to patients where it had previously been denied.

The QuintilesIMS report also highlights the need for multiple biosimilar players in the market to take advantage of the full benefits of competition in the long-run, which is in line with earlier findings[1]. Governments should refrain from pursuing drastic short-term policies that limit the number of competitors in the market. Aligning payers’ and manufacturers’ understanding of the short, medium and long term benefits of biosimilar medicines is a cornerstone of sustainable biosimilar policy-making and healthcare sustainability. In addition and as highlighted during the event organised by the European Commission last week in Brussels[2], the availability of information and education around the use of biosimilar medicines is important to build stakeholder confidence in biosimilar medicines. Evidence-based discussions in a multi-stakeholder setting have largely contributed to the success of gainsharing schemes thanks to which biosimilar medicines have been introduced in medical practice across Europe for better access.

Adrian van den Hoven, Director General Medicines for Europe, commented: “Biosimilar medicines form an essential part of healthcare provision in Europe today. They have brought and will continue bringing competition to the market, providing access to biological therapies that are out of reach for too many patients in Europe. Medicines for Europe acknowledges the role of the European Commission and its partnership with QuintilesIMS in pursuing the dialogue and close monitoring of the unfolding of the competition in the biologics market”.

About the Biosimilar Medicines Group

The Biosimilar Medicines Group is a sector group of Medicines for Europe and represents the leading companies developing, manufacturing and marketing biosimilar medicines across Europe. Our members bring competition to the biologic medicines market, thereby increasing access to highly innovative medical treatments to patients in Europe and around the world, and supporting the sustainability of the European healthcare systems.

About Medicines for Europe

Medicines for Europe represents the generic, biosimilar and value added medicines industries across Europe. Its vision is to provide sustainable access to high quality medicines, based on 5 important pillars: patients, quality, value, sustainability and partnership.  Its members employ 160,000 people at over 350 manufacturing and R&D sites in Europe, and invest up to 17% of their turnover in medical innovation.

Medicines for Europe member companies across Europe are both increasing access to medicines and driving improved health outcomes. They play a key role in creating sustainable European healthcare systems by continuing to provide high quality, effective generic medicines, whilst also innovating to create new biosimilar medicines and bringing to market value added medicines, which deliver better health outcomes, greater efficiency and/or improved safety in the hospital setting for patients. 

For more information please follow us at www.medicinesforeurope.com and on Twitter @medicinesforEU.