USE OF BIOSIMILARS IN FRENCH COMMUNITY PHARMACIES: A NATIONWIDE ANALYSIS USING OPEN-ACCESS MEDICO-ADMINISTRATIVE DATA (2016-2025)
Author(s)
Hugo Tircazes1, Hélène DENIS, PharmaD2, Thomas Lafon, -2.
1Project Manager, Heva, Lyon, France, 2Heva, Lyon, France.
1Project Manager, Heva, Lyon, France, 2Heva, Lyon, France.
OBJECTIVES: To analyse the use of biosimilar medicines in community pharmacies in France using open-access data on the 2016-2025 period.
METHODS: This retrospective study used reimbursement data from all health insurance schemes (Open Medic) covering biosimilars dispensed in community pharmacies between 2016 and 2025. Biological groups were included if at least one biosimilar had been reimbursed since 2024. The annual distribution of dispensed packs between reference products and biosimilars was analysed overall and stratified by patient age group, gender, and prescriber type.
RESULTS: A total of 12 biological groups had at least one biosimilar available for reimbursement in community pharmacies by 2024. Biosimilars represented 50.1% of total dispensed packs (n=16,325,057) in 2025, compared with 16.9% in 2016 (n=5,882,063).Between 2016 and 2025, biosimilars from selected biological groups consistently accounted for a minority of dispensed packs in patients aged 0-19 years (6.4% to 23.5%). In contrast, their use was higher among adults aged 20-59 years (48.7% to 82.9%) and those aged ≥60 years (48.2% to . 87.4%).Dispensing patterns also differed by gender, with biosimilars products accounting for 10.9% to 46.2% of annual dispensed packs in males and 18.8% to 53.3% in females on the 2016 to 2025 periodBiosimilar use varied by prescriber type, with lower proportions observed among prescriptions issued by liberal practitioners (6.8% to 43.1%) compared with hospital practitioners (21.1% to 55.3%).
CONCLUSIONS: Biosimilar use in French community pharmacies has increased substantially over the past decade, reaching parity with reference products for the first time in 2025. However, marked disparities persist across patient’s age groups and prescriber types, with lower adoption observed in younger patients and in prescriptions issued by liberal practitioners. These findings highlight the need for more targeted strategies to reduce remaining barriers and promote more homogeneous biosimilar use in routine practice.
METHODS: This retrospective study used reimbursement data from all health insurance schemes (Open Medic) covering biosimilars dispensed in community pharmacies between 2016 and 2025. Biological groups were included if at least one biosimilar had been reimbursed since 2024. The annual distribution of dispensed packs between reference products and biosimilars was analysed overall and stratified by patient age group, gender, and prescriber type.
RESULTS: A total of 12 biological groups had at least one biosimilar available for reimbursement in community pharmacies by 2024. Biosimilars represented 50.1% of total dispensed packs (n=16,325,057) in 2025, compared with 16.9% in 2016 (n=5,882,063).Between 2016 and 2025, biosimilars from selected biological groups consistently accounted for a minority of dispensed packs in patients aged 0-19 years (6.4% to 23.5%). In contrast, their use was higher among adults aged 20-59 years (48.7% to 82.9%) and those aged ≥60 years (48.2% to . 87.4%).Dispensing patterns also differed by gender, with biosimilars products accounting for 10.9% to 46.2% of annual dispensed packs in males and 18.8% to 53.3% in females on the 2016 to 2025 periodBiosimilar use varied by prescriber type, with lower proportions observed among prescriptions issued by liberal practitioners (6.8% to 43.1%) compared with hospital practitioners (21.1% to 55.3%).
CONCLUSIONS: Biosimilar use in French community pharmacies has increased substantially over the past decade, reaching parity with reference products for the first time in 2025. However, marked disparities persist across patient’s age groups and prescriber types, with lower adoption observed in younger patients and in prescriptions issued by liberal practitioners. These findings highlight the need for more targeted strategies to reduce remaining barriers and promote more homogeneous biosimilar use in routine practice.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
RWD79
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Organizational Practices, Real World Data & Information Systems
Topic Subcategory
Health & Insurance Records Systems
Disease
Biologics & Biosimilars, No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas