Hospira highlights five-year success of biosimilar offering

Hospira has marked the fifth anniversary of its introduction of biosimilar products in Europe by highlighting the success these products have enjoyed thus far.

As the company prepares to commence selling biosimilars in the US for the first time, it revealed that more than five million doses of high-quality biosimilar medicines have been delivered to European and Australian patients in the last half-decade.

The first product in this portfolio, Retacrit, was introduced in the EU in 2008 following an intensive regulatory approval process, with the second – Nivestem – following in 2010.

It is estimated that biosimilar treatments offer cost savings to healthcare systems of approximately 25 to 30 percent, thus expanding patient access to lifesaving therapies.

Thomas Moore, president of Hospira's US operations, said: "Biosimilars have come to stay in Europe and we're very pleased with the progress we are seeing."

Earlier this month, the company announced the appointment of Matthew Stober as its new senior vice-president of operations, succeeding the outgoing John Elliot.