Unlocking access in Asia through biosimilars

15 years ago, Sandoz launched the first biosimilar, pioneering access to an affordable, high-quality version of an existing biologic and a much-needed medicine. The EMA’s approval was a defining moment for healthcare systems and patients in Europe and around the world, as the first ever biosimilar became available.

But as we look to deliver on our ambition of bringing affordable treatments to even more patients, we should first ask ourselves whether the success achieved to-date for biosimilars in the world e.g. Australia and Brazil, can be replicated in other parts of Asia.  

 As the prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis increases globally, and as biologics revolutionise treatments for such diseases, the demand for affordable biologics in Asia is growing. At first glance, it might seem that the opportunity for biosimilars is a done deal but, is this really the case?

Unlocking market access is a big challenge across Asia. Insufficient access to biologics, a lack of dedicated regulatory frameworks and limited incentives to drive uptake are some of the roadblocks.

Increasing public health expenditure has become a priority in many emerging countries and with it, cost containment is always front and centre. From that perspective, biosimilars should be an attractive proposition to governments looking to drive down costs while ensuring more and more patients can benefit from treatment. In Japan the government’s ‘honebuto’ policy, adopted in 2020, led to reforms to pricing and reimbursement schemes for biosimilars. This supportive environment is a great start, however other countries in Asia are at varying levels of maturity in terms of reimbursement policies and there is an opportunity to review and evolve their pricing models to reap the benefits that biosimilars can bring.

Taking the long view, as biosimilars become more available and/or governments support expanding their availability, more funds can also be diverted into developing innovative therapies for unmet needs, enabling the healthcare ecosystem to treat more patients overall than ever before.

The opportunity for biosimilars in Asia is already here and the runway for growth is a long one. We already have the keys to unlock access in the region, we just need to work together to address the challenges and open doors, so more patients in Asia can benefit from these transformative medicines.