July/August 2022 • PharmaTimes Magazine • 22-23
// BIOSIMILARS //
Stark similarities
How biosimilars support sustainability throughout global healthcare systems and deliver the building blocks for vital healthcare
‘Introducing biosimilars into the market increases the affordability of and access to potentially life-changing medicines for huge numbers of patients worldwide’
The challenge is common – the solutions are different. Countries have different healthcare systems but, in every country, resources are limited.
In the face of rising patient needs, providing best possible treatments while ensuring the sustainability of our healthcare systems requires vision and bravery. Make no mistake, the widespread adoption of biosimilars is a cornerstone of these ambitions.
As COVID-19 swept the globe, the need for action and innovation became all too familiar, highlighted by the responsibility that each of us has to protect each other, as well as our institutions. It was a stark reminder too that there’s no place for complacency when it comes to ensuring high quality healthcare and the future of our healthcare systems; we can’t take it for granted, either at a personal or regional or country level. We must embrace change.
The priority accorded to healthcare is primarily reflected in the pattern and extent of healthcare spending. It has been increasing over the past two decades, with countries committed to spending an increasing percentage of their GDP on this public good.
‘There is a very strong case for change. Biologics have revolutionised the treatment and prevention of many disabling and life-threatening diseases in areas such as endocrinology, oncology and immunology’
COVID-19 served to accelerate this trend. But despite an increasing inflow of investment, healthcare systems are still suffering – patient backlogs, in areas such as oncology and immunology, remain high. And unexpected spending on antivirals, vaccines, pandemic control and future prevention has squeezed funding for other therapeutic areas. As a result, healthcare systems are becoming increasingly strained and in need of support.
Post-pandemic
As the threat posed by the pandemic appears to recede in Europe, financial and other resourcing pressures on global healthcare systems nevertheless remain. The incidence of chronic diseases, a growing and ageing population (in itself an indication of success) and other societal trends add to the stresses and strains on healthcare budgets, both as individuals and collectively.
Meanwhile, the rising costs of healthcare can’t be sustained – already, according to the World Economic Forum, 100 million people each year fall into extreme poverty because of health expenses. Something needs to change – and it can’t come soon enough.
At Sandoz, we believe that biosimilars are an important solution for patients and healthcare systems. They are an essential lever to tackle many challenges in healthcare while expanding access to affordable medicines, generating savings by increasing competition and fuelling innovation.
We need to overcome some barriers to make this happen, including blatant misinformation about the quality, safety and effectiveness of biosimilars, limitations in the understanding of their value among patients, physicians, and payers and unfavourable policy systems.
There is a very strong case for change. Biologics have revolutionised the treatment and prevention of many disabling and life-threatening diseases in areas such as endocrinology, oncology, immunology, ophthalmology and dermatology.
As developing and supplying these medicines is so complex, however, biologics contribute to the rising cost of healthcare when they should be making systems run much more smoothly. There is an opportunity in the new landscape to create a market in which biosimilars have the ability to change lives.
Access all areas
Patient access to potentially life-changing treatments has to be the priority. A biosimilar is a successor to a biologic medicine (also known as ‘reference medicine’) for which the patent has expired and exclusivity has been lost.
Introducing biosimilars into the market increases the affordability of and access to potentially life-changing medicines for huge numbers of patients worldwide. Biosimilars may also enable more patients to gain access to high-quality, life-changing medicines earlier in their treatment.
Furthermore, the introduction of competition in the market increases the affordability of biologics, delivering substantial savings for healthcare systems. For example, in Europe, biosimilars saved healthcare systems at least EUR 18 billion between 2006-2007. And it’s estimated that biosimilars can lead to around USD 215 billion cumulative savings between 2021 and 2026 worldwide.
In this way, biosimilars can liberate resources to improve care and fund the next generation of medicines as well as other innovations. Making it all happen across the evolving terrain requires a cultural shift and there needs to be much a far greater aligned commitment to and understanding of biosimilars.
It needs up-to-date clinical guidelines, physician education and greater awareness of biosimilars as well as appropriate physician incentives. Alongside this we need sustainable pricing, reimbursement and procurement mechanisms that are fit for purpose. It cannot be done by one person or one stakeholder, everyone needs to be involved to effectively beat the access and availability barriers and develop long-term sustainability in healthcare.
Same difference
Working together for a more sustainable future, at Sandoz we play our part in helping to shape the future by working with policymakers to allow greater biosimilar uptake and drive medicine access around the world. Essentially, to make substantial change that improves the lives of patients we all need to pull in the same direction.
We recently announced the launch of the global Act4Biosimilars initiative. The initiative aims to increase patient access to biologic medicines by facilitating greater approvability, accessibility, acceptability and affordability (‘the 4 As’) of biosimilars. It aims to bring people together to increase the global adoption of biosimilar medicines by at least 30% in 30+ countries by 2030.
There is no silver bullet to increase the adoption of biosimilars. Each country has to find its own tailored approach, considering the local environment and set-up. But the exchange of best practices and learnings can stimulate conversations and real change. I am privileged to be able to play my part and work alongside many dedicated individuals in shaping a new dimension of healthcare with patients at the heart.
If this is to be achievable it, above all, requires motivations, approaches and partnerships which are the same – well, ‘similar’ at any rate.
Isabell Remus is Head of Biosimilars at Sandoz Europe. Go to sandoz.com
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