Since the first approval of a biosimilar medicine in the EU in 2006, biosimilars have promised to deliver a more cost-effective solution for off-patent biologics, and by extension improve patient access to these medicines. A recent report highlights that the entrance of biosimilars into a therapeutic space increases price competition, thus driving down the price.

Between 2016 and 2020, the addressable biosimilars market (i.e. biologics losing patent protection) in the EU5 and US has been estimated at €47bn, of which the UK accounts for €9bn. Despite this potential for saving in a health service facing substantial funding challenges, coupled with NICE recommendations for the use of biosimilars where possible, the uptake of biosimilars across the UK has been noted as slow by several reports. The factors influencing this should be addressed to ensure that maximal benefits of biosimilars can be realised in the UK.

Several studies and reports have been identified between 2010 and 2017 which examine the slow uptake of biosimilars in the UK. These range from physician concern over biosimilar efficacy/safety to a general perceived lack of information from manufacturers and across the NHS. There is evidence to suggest that these concerns persist to this day, although recently the NHS have taken a more active leadership role to “to improve clinician confidence and clarify understanding amongst decision makers.