Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the financial benefits derived from the adoption of biosimilars for three key monoclonal antibodies infliximab, rituximab, and trastuzumab across Europe from 2015 to 2024. By comparing real-world spending following biosimilar uptake with projected spending in a hypothetical scenario of continued originator-only usage, the study quantifies cost savings for European healthcare systems.
METHODS: Cost savings were calculated using IQVIA MIDAS data on sales and volume for each molecule. Two metrics were defined:

• Projected Spend: Estimated expenditure had only originator biologics remained on market at pre-biosimilar prices.
• Actual Spend: Real-world expenditure incorporating biosimilar market dynamics, including price erosion and volume shifts.

Savings were calculated annually, with currency values reported in euros for rituximab, trastuzumab, and infliximab. The analysis spans the years 2015 to 2024, with molecule-specific availability timelines reflected in the start year of savings reporting.
RESULTS:

• Infliximab delivered sustained cost savings beginning in 2015, with cumulative savings reaching €7.7 billion by 2024. Annual savings grew from €66.6 million in 2015 to over €1.3 billion in 2024.
• Rituximab biosimilar entry began influencing savings from 2017 onward, with total savings climbing to $1.4 billion in 2024, for a cumulative savings of approximately $7.5 billion over the 8-year period.
• Trastuzumab, with biosimilars introduced slightly later, generated a cumulative savings of $7.5 billion between 2018 and 2024, with annual savings increasing steadily to $1.4 billion in 2024.

Combined, these three biosimilar classes accounted for tens of billions in avoided expenditure across European markets, enabling reinvestment into healthcare systems or broader patient access.
CONCLUSIONS: The adoption of biosimilars for infliximab, rituximab, and trastuzumab has yielded substantial savings for European healthcare systems, with consistently growing annual impact as biosimilar penetration deepened. This evidence underscores the value of sustained policy support, cross-country uptake harmonization, and pricing transparency to unlock the full economic potential of biosimilars in Europe.