Existing research primarily addresses clinical equivalence to reference biologics and safety of switching, with a paucity in data demonstrating broader patient population benefits of biosimilars. Cost savings from biosimilars are described, but there is a lack of evidence that these savings translate into improved access or earlier use of biologics, or whether budgetary reallocations enable access to other innovative treatments. While biosimilars are expected to reduce spending and expand treatment options, data on their extended stability and real-world outcomes are scarce. In conclusion, biosimilars offer potential to reduce healthcare costs and improve access to biologic therapies. Further research is needed to fully establish their holistic benefits across patient populations. This would enable a better understanding of how biosimilar adoption influences real-world treatment access, clinical and system-wide outcomes.
Shah et al. (Fri,) studied this question.