Biosimilars | Current Treatment | Oncology | US/EU | 2017
Recent launches of Celltrion’s Truxima (rituximab) and Sandoz’s Rixathon (rituximab) have expanded the biosimilar sector of the European oncology market. In the United States, only a single oncology biosimilar is currently available (Sandoz’s Zarxio [filgrastim]), but the first bevacizumab biosimilar, Amgen’s Mvasi (bevacizumab-awwb), was approved in September 2017, and is due to launch in 2019 following patent expiry for Avastin. Uptake of these biosimilars, as well as those of biosimilar G-CSFs and ESAs, will depend on the prescribing behavior of oncologists. To help manufacturers/marketers of oncology biosimilars and brands understand the opinions, actions, and expectations of these actors, Decision Resources Group conducted primary market research with oncologists in France, Germany, and the United States.
Questions answered:
What is the current patient share of oncology biosimilars, and what expectations do oncologists have for future patient shares, assuming additional biosimilars launch?
How similar do oncologists think biosimilars are to their reference brands?
What factors do oncologists identify as being the key drivers and barriers to biosimilar uptake?
What percentage of biosimilar-treated patients were initiated on a biosimilar, and what percentage were switched from a reference brand?
What cost reduction is required for a biosimilar to achieve greater than 50% patient share?