OBJECTIVES: To explore the market dynamics of biosimilar infliximab commonly approved and funded in France, UK, Japan and Korea

METHODS:A quarterly dataset from MIDAS-IQVIA International database was constructed from October 2012 to March 2018 (22 quarters) regarding the sales value (USD) and volume for both originator and biosimilar infliximab products.

RESULTS:With the introduction of biosimilar, the infliximab market value increased approximately 2.5 times in Korea whereas the market value slightly increased (1.2 for France and UK) or decreased (0.9 for Japan). The sales value of infliximab originator decreased in UK, France, and Japan whereas the opposite trend was observed in Korea where the sales value of infliximab originator increasing approximately 1.7 times with the introduction of the biosimilar counterparts. The sales value of the biosimilar substantially increased in France (1,587.7 times) and UK (972.6 times), whereas a more limited increase was observed in Japan (67.7 times) and Korea (89.6 times. The market share of infliximab biosimilar(s) reached approximately 89% of the total market in the UK, followed by France (48%), and Korea (35%), whereas the market share was only 6% for infliximab biosimilar in Japan based on values seen in quarter one of 2018 (last time point in the data set).The lowest percentage price was found in Japan, where the price of the infliximab biosimilar was approximately 68% of that of the originator. France and Korea had appreciably higher prices 99% and 95%, respectively, and the price level remained stable. UK showed that the price ratio started as 87% of the infliximab originator and then decreased as the market matured (80%).

CONCLUSIONS: The market uptake of biosimilar infliximab varied greatly, and the introduction of biosimilar infliximab resulted in market expansion of infliximab originator in Korea, which contrasted with UK, France and Japan.