Some 40% of G7 ESA markets to be biosimilars by 2020, and insulins to reach $1 billion, says DR report

By 2020, biosimilar versions of erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) will garner 40% market share for the drug class in the G7 markets (USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and Japan).

According to a new analysis from Decision Resources’ Biosimilars Advisory Service, competitive pricing and fairly aggressive uptake by US nephrologists will propel biosimilar ESAs to have the second-highest market share of any of the biosimilar drug classes to be on the market. ESAs are second only to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapies in anticipated market share in the G7 markets.

Analysis in Biosimilars Advisory Service: Physician Perspectives on Erythropoietin
Stimulating Agents, Insulin, and Human Growth Hormone also finds that the sales of biosimilar insulins are forecasted to reach more $1 billion in 2020. Market potential for biosimilar insulins will be restricted by the agents’ limited potential for discounting and endocrinologists’ restraint towards prescribing biosimilars.

Insulin production costs will limit biosimilars