The Impact of the Entry of Biosimilars: Evidence from Europe
Biologics represent a substantial and growing share of the U.S. drug market. Traditional “small molecule” generics quickly erode the price and share of the branded product upon entry; however, only a few biosimilars have been approved in the U.S. since 2015, thereby largely preserving biologics from competition. We analyze European markets, which have had biosimilar competition since 2006. Using our own survey, we analyze how market features and public policies predict biosimilar entry, price, and penetration, finding significant heterogeneity across countries and products. Effective buyer institutions are associated with increased biosimilar penetration. Our estimates can inform ongoing policy discussions.
Keywords: health care; biosimilars; Biologics; pharmaceutical competition; healthcare spending; innovation; Health Care and Treatment; Spending; Market Entry and Exit; Competition; Innovation and Invention; Pharmaceutical Industry; United States; Europe;
Citation:
Scott Morton, Fiona M., Ariel Dora Stern, and Scott Stern. "The Impact of the Entry of Biosimilars: Evidence from Europe." Review of Industrial Organization 53, no. 1 (August 2018): 173–210. View Details