Learn from each other to create biosimilar access, group urges EU countries

The group representing generic and biosimilar drugmakers across Europe has published a new report reviewing the policies supporting the new wave of copycat treatments that could create access to biologics that are out of reach for many patients.

Biosimilars are enabling better access to expensive drugs in major areas such as oncology and rheumatology, and are improving the sustainability of European healthcare budgets with cheaper price tags than the reference products.

They are subject to a report from the Medicines for Europe group titled 2017 Market Review – Biosimilar Medicines Markets. This gives an overview of biosimilar medicines policies in 31 European countries detailing their availability, pricing system, tendering, reimbursement and benefit sharing for physicians, pharmacists and patients.