A UNIQUE PATTERN OF AVERAGE SALES PRICE EROSION OF PEGFILGRASTIM FOLLOWING BIOSIMILAR ENTRY INTO THE US MARKET
Author(s)
Ansam Beddor, BS, MS1, Brian Erstad, PharmD1, Karen MacDonald, RN, BS, MS, PhD2, Nimer Alkhatib, PharmD, MS, PhD3, Ivo Abraham, RN, BS, MS, PhD1;
1University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA, 2Matrix45, LLC, Tucson, AZ, USA, 3Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
1University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA, 2Matrix45, LLC, Tucson, AZ, USA, 3Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
OBJECTIVES: To quantify the erosion in the Average Sales Price (ASP) for pegfilgrastim and its biosimilars covered under Medicare Part B from 2011Q2 to 2024Q4.
METHODS: We evaluated the ASP of pegfilgrastim and its approved biosimilars, with ≥3 quarters of ASP data. ASPs were calculated using the published reimbursement limits from the ASP Pricing Files, accounting for temporal changes in the add-on percentages of 4.30%, 6.00%, and 8.00%. Price erosion was quantified as follows: difference between biosimilar and pegfilgrastim ASP at biosimilar market entry, percentage change in biosimilar ASP since market entry, evolution of pegfilgrastim ASP pre- and post-biosimilar entry, and ratio of pegfilgrastim projected to actual ASP. We visualized the relative quarterly difference in biosimilar to pegfilgrastim ASP post-biosimilar entry. We assessed whether observed ASP trends differed statistically.
RESULTS: Six biosimilars entering markets between 2018Q2-2023Q2 were evaluated. Except for two biosimilars, biosimilar ASPs at market entry exceeded pegfilgrastim ASPs by $0.10 to $3,275.64. Over time, biosimilar ASPs declined from their market entry ASPs by 9.8% to 92.2%. Pre-biosimilar market entry, the average quarterly percentage pegfilgrastim price increase was 2.00%, with a cumulative percentage increase of 84.9%. Post-biosimilar market entry, the average quarterly percentage decrease was 10.00%. By 2024Q4, the projected pegfilgrastim ASP was 17.08 times the actual ASP, and the biosimilar ASP was 2 to 9 times the pegfilgrastim ASP. Differences in ASP trends for pegfilgrastim pre- vs. post-biosimilar market entry, and among biosimilars were statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: Biosimilars entered markets with ASPs higher than pegfilgrastim ASPs. Reference pegfilgrastim ASPs showed an unusual pattern of decline relative to literature-reported ASP patterns for other reference biological agents post-biosimilar market entry; reflecting a unique defensive strategy by the manufacturer of reference pegfilgrastim. Findings also confirmed the general trend of decreases in ASP, highlighting biosimilars' role in lowering treatment costs and enhancing patient access.
METHODS: We evaluated the ASP of pegfilgrastim and its approved biosimilars, with ≥3 quarters of ASP data. ASPs were calculated using the published reimbursement limits from the ASP Pricing Files, accounting for temporal changes in the add-on percentages of 4.30%, 6.00%, and 8.00%. Price erosion was quantified as follows: difference between biosimilar and pegfilgrastim ASP at biosimilar market entry, percentage change in biosimilar ASP since market entry, evolution of pegfilgrastim ASP pre- and post-biosimilar entry, and ratio of pegfilgrastim projected to actual ASP. We visualized the relative quarterly difference in biosimilar to pegfilgrastim ASP post-biosimilar entry. We assessed whether observed ASP trends differed statistically.
RESULTS: Six biosimilars entering markets between 2018Q2-2023Q2 were evaluated. Except for two biosimilars, biosimilar ASPs at market entry exceeded pegfilgrastim ASPs by $0.10 to $3,275.64. Over time, biosimilar ASPs declined from their market entry ASPs by 9.8% to 92.2%. Pre-biosimilar market entry, the average quarterly percentage pegfilgrastim price increase was 2.00%, with a cumulative percentage increase of 84.9%. Post-biosimilar market entry, the average quarterly percentage decrease was 10.00%. By 2024Q4, the projected pegfilgrastim ASP was 17.08 times the actual ASP, and the biosimilar ASP was 2 to 9 times the pegfilgrastim ASP. Differences in ASP trends for pegfilgrastim pre- vs. post-biosimilar market entry, and among biosimilars were statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: Biosimilars entered markets with ASPs higher than pegfilgrastim ASPs. Reference pegfilgrastim ASPs showed an unusual pattern of decline relative to literature-reported ASP patterns for other reference biological agents post-biosimilar market entry; reflecting a unique defensive strategy by the manufacturer of reference pegfilgrastim. Findings also confirmed the general trend of decreases in ASP, highlighting biosimilars' role in lowering treatment costs and enhancing patient access.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE250
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Disease
SDC: Oncology, STA: Biologics & Biosimilars