Cardinal Health recently published a very slick report on the State of Biosimilars.
We’ve heard so much about biosimilars (even from this esteemed reporting source) that many say….. enough already!
BUT, biosimilars are gaining traction in the marketplace at a logarithmically faster pace so, dear readers, it is time to give biosims the respect….. or at least the attention…. that they deserve.
The Cardinal report covers a lot of ground. As one might expect, it details the overall market landscape. However, the report also begins to peel back the dark side of biosimilars with insight into how payers and PBMs – in league with manufacturers (typically the reference product manufacturer) – have leveraged their positions to create a web of pricing tactics that make one’s head spin. Formulary management is gasping for breath given the growing cornucopia of biosims (beyond just a handful of big market indications such as the bucket of Humira indications.)
SPs will need to step up their game in this 3-dimensional chess game being fostered in by biosimilars….. especially as relates to purchasing, inventory management, formulary compliance, and more. The fact that biosimilar are being approved with interchangeable designations only adds further complications.
So,….. we recommend that you download the Cardinal Health report and fill in significant information gaps….. as this dear author has also done.
