With multiple Humira biosimilars slated for launch in the US next year, some simultaneously, a Vizient survey provides some insights into what could be the most important differentiating aspects. Generics Bulletin speaks to Steven Lucio, Vizient senior principal of pharmacy solutions, about the findings.

The US Association for Accessible Medicines’ annual report into generic and biosimilar savings has documented another year of increased cost savings thanks to off-patent drugs, but says some patients are still overpaying for their generic medicines. 

Aripiprazole led the steepest UK generic price rises in August 2022, a hugely dynamic month that saw treble-digit percentage price increases for a number of molecules, according to the latest figures from WaveData.

With the launch of rivals to Humira looming in 2023, removing barriers to free pricing and reforming formularies will be essential to promote biosimilar competition in the US, according to Wayne Winegarden of the Pacific Research Institute.

An average price rise of over 1,400% was seen for alendronate 70mg tablets in the UK last month, as average prices for a host of other generics more than doubled.

Inflation, new COVID-19 waves and delayed cold and flu outbreaks are causing disruption to Europe's paracetamol supply chain. Industry is not currently concerned, but regulators, for example in France, are introducing measures to prevent this issue spreading from children's to adult forms of the drug, as well as to ibuprofen-based alternatives.

Temazepam 10mg and 20mg tablets exhibited the steepest UK generic price rises in June, with average prices that nearly quadrupled, according to the latest figures from WaveData.

Amgen expects a significant shift in the US biosimilars landscape as Humira rivals launch next year, Chad Pettit, the firm’s executive director of marketing and global biosimilars lead, tells Generics Bulletin. The company expects to be first to market with its version of adalimumab from the end of January 2023, helping to drive long-term growth ambitions for its biosimilars business.

A balanced policy environment that supports competition is needed to allow biosimilars to flourish in the US, according to Amgen, along with strong and transparent IP processes to underpin continuing innovation in the biologics space. Chad Pettit, the firm’s executive director of marketing and global biosimilars commercial lead, talks to Generics Bulletin about the firm’s “unique perspective” on biosimilars.