Sandoz welcomes findings of biosimilars report

Sandoz has reacted positively to a new report that highlighted the potential savings available to healthcare systems through the use of biosimilars.

Published by the IGES Institute, the study indicated that eight nations in the EU could save up to 33.4 billion euros (26.8 billion pounds) by 2020 thanks to the introduction of biosimilar medicines.

Ameet Mallik, head of biopharmaceuticals and oncological injectables at Sandoz, said the report "highlights the value and importance of biosimilars for the future of healthcare".

He added: "We have witnessed how the use of biosimilars can increase patient access and reduce expenditures on biologics."

The IGES report, which was published in German medical trade magazine Monitor Versorgungsforschung, calculated the savings expected from the use of biosimilars in Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Poland and Romania.

It suggested existing pressures on healthcare systems in each of these countries could be eased by faster access and greater interchangeability between reference drugs and biosimilars.

The term biosimilar is used to describe drugs that are produced and marketed by manufacturers other than the originator following patent expiry, subject to regulatory approval.