OBJECTIVES: Biosimilars can help to improve patient access through providing cost-effective treatment options. This study assessed the savings and expanded patient access that could be realized from incremental increased use of adalimumab biosimilars, and the introduction of a tocilizumab biosimilar.

METHODS: Separate ex-ante analyses were conducted for France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom (UK), parameterized using country-specific list prices, unit volumes annually, and market shares for each therapy. Discounting scenarios of 20%, 30%, and 40% were tested for tocilizumab. Outputs included direct cost-savings associated with drug acquisition, and the incremental number of patients that could be treated on a budget-neutral basis. Two biosimilar conversion scenarios were tested.

RESULTS: Current-day use of adalimumab biosimilars ranged from 46% in France to 85% in the UK. Gain in total biosimilar market share yielded savings of €8.4 million in the UK (93% market share) to €102 million in Germany (88% market share), equivalent to 877 and 10,611 additional patients that could be treated under a budget-neutral basis. Exclusive use of adalimumab biosimilars could yield €15.8 million (1,644 additional patients) in near-saturated markets such as the UK, to €204 million in Germany (21,223 additional patients). Introduction of biosimilar tocilizumab provided savings of €15.7-€57.2 million in the most conservative scenario (20% discount at current day adalimumab biosimilar shares), equivalent to treating an additional 12%-21% of patients. With exclusive use of tocilizumab biosimilars at a 40% discount, this increased to €38.4-€150 million (67% increase in patient access for all countries).

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the benefits that can be realized through increased biosimilar adoption, not only in an untapped tocilizumab market, but also through incremental increases in well-established markets such as adalimumab. As healthcare budgets continue to face downwards pressure globally, strategies to increase biosimilar uptake could prove useful to help manage financial constraints.