Biosimilars Redefining Therapeutic Access: US & EU Markets on the Brink of $171 Billion Revolution | DataM Intelligence

Biosimilars surge with interchangeable approvals, cost savings, and broad pipeline growth, set to hit $171B by 2033. The next wave of drug affordability is here

AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES, June 19, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Biosimilars Are Taking Center Stage in Pharma: Competitive Intelligence Across the US & EU
Biosimilars, once considered the low-cost alternative to biologics, have now cemented their place as a cornerstone of affordable, high-impact healthcare. A biosimilar is a biologic product that is highly similar to, and has no clinically meaningful differences from, an already FDA-approved reference biologic. With the rise of interchangeable biosimilars that can be substituted at the pharmacy level without prescriber intervention, the biosimilar revolution is no longer on the horizon-it’s here.

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As of March 2025, the U.S. FDA has approved 71 biosimilars, with at least 15 carrying interchangeable designations. Europe, a pioneer in biosimilar adoption, continues to see wide penetration across oncology, autoimmune conditions, endocrinology, and more. Together, the US and EU biosimilars markets are forecasted to skyrocket from $22.58 billion in 2024 to a projected $171.79 billion by 2033, at an impressive CAGR of 25.5%.

What’s Driving the Biosimilar Surge?
Several interconnected trends are propelling biosimilar development and adoption:
- Expanding Therapeutic Applications: Initially limited to oncology and rheumatology, biosimilars are now entering ophthalmology (e.g., Eylea biosimilars), endocrinology (e.g., insulin biosimilars), and even rare diseases and neurology (e.g., Tysabri biosimilars).
- Regulatory Acceleration: Agencies like the FDA and EMA are streamlining approval processes for biosimilars, especially those targeting blockbuster drugs with upcoming patent expirations.
- Pharmacy-Level Substitution: With an increasing number of biosimilars gaining FDA interchangeability designation, automatic substitution at the pharmacy is becoming more commonplace—mirroring generic drug models.
- Cost Competitiveness: Biosimilars are generally priced 40–86% lower than reference biologics, offering substantial savings for payers and patients alike.
- Global Expansion: Patent cliffs in the next 5–8 years are opening up global biosimilar opportunities, particularly in emerging markets where affordability is key.

Approved Biosimilars: A Rapid Rise in Numbers
- The U.S. FDA has approved 71 biosimilars to date. Notably, 15 of these are interchangeable—a designation that significantly enhances market uptake due to easier substitution pathways.
- Europe continues to lead in clinical use and volume of biosimilars, benefiting from a more biosimilar-friendly regulatory and pricing environment.
- Biologics like Humira, Herceptin, Avastin, Enbrel, Remicade, and Eylea are among the top targets for biosimilar competition, each with multiple approved or pipeline biosimilar challengers.

Biosimilar Pipeline: What’s Coming Next
The biosimilar pipeline is rich and diverse, targeting high-revenue biologics across several therapeutic categories. Highlights include:
- Ophthalmology: Biosimilars for Eylea (aflibercept) and Lucentis (ranibizumab) are approaching final approval stages.
- Neurology: Tysabri (natalizumab) biosimilars are entering late-stage trials with limited existing competition, presenting a lucrative opportunity for early market entry.
- Immunology: Biosimilars for Stelara, Cosentyx, and Dupixent are in the pipeline, targeting conditions like psoriasis, Crohn’s disease, and atopic dermatitis.
- Endocrinology: Insulin biosimilars like SEMGLEE are gaining FDA approval and interchangeability status, helping to address rising diabetes-related costs.

Market Forecast: The $171 Billion Biosimilar Future
In 2024, the global biosimilar market was valued at $22.58 billion. By 2033, that figure is expected to grow nearly eightfold to $171.79 billion, driven by:
- Patent expirations of major biologics
- Increasing payer demand for cost-effective options
- Expanding pipelines across multiple therapy areas
- Growing public and physician trust in biosimilar efficacy and safety

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Persistent Gaps and Unmet Needs
Despite this explosive growth, several barriers continue to limit biosimilar adoption and access:
- Regulatory Variability: Approval standards vary between the US, EU, and other regions, leading to delays in global product launches.
- Physician & Patient Education: A lack of understanding or lingering skepticism about biosimilar safety and efficacy can hinder adoption.
- Reimbursement Complexities: Biosimilar access often depends on payer policies and formulary placement, which can be inconsistent or restrictive.
- Limited Interchangeables: While the number is growing, most biosimilars still lack interchangeability status, reducing ease of pharmacy substitution.
- High Development Costs: Biosimilars are complex to develop and manufacture, which can eat into pricing flexibility and margins.
- Therapeutic Gaps: There is still a need for biosimilars in rare diseases, neurology, and pediatric conditions, where reference biologics dominate with minimal biosimilar alternatives.

The Competitive Landscape: Who’s Leading the Biosimilar Charge?
The biosimilar ecosystem is dominated by several global powerhouses, with strategies ranging from aggressive pricing to innovation in drug delivery:
- Amgen, Pfizer, Sandoz, Samsung Bioepis, Biocon Biologics, Celltrion, and Coherus BioSciences are among the top players shaping the market.
- Companies like Organon, Mylan-Viatris, and Alvotech are also rapidly expanding their biosimilar portfolios, particularly in the autoimmune and insulin segments.

Strategic moves include:
- Securing interchangeability status to accelerate pharmacy-level substitution
- Launching auto-injectors and prefilled syringe formats for ease of use
- Partnering with PBMs and insurers to ensure favorable formulary placement
- Competing aggressively on pricing and volume-based contracts

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What Makes a Biosimilar Stand Out? (Descriptive Benchmarking)
For a biosimilar to succeed in the competitive US and EU markets, several factors are critical:
- Reference Product: Targeting high-volume reference biologics like Humira, Avastin, and Herceptin maximizes market opportunity.
- Therapeutic Area Focus: Biosimilars in oncology, rheumatology, and endocrinology tend to achieve faster uptake due to high clinical familiarity.
- Patent Expiry Timing: Early entry immediately after loss of exclusivity offers first-mover advantages.
- Interchangeability Designation: Gaining FDA’s interchangeable status, as seen with HADLIMA and CIMERLI, boosts pharmacy-level substitution.
- Competitive Pricing: Biosimilars priced 50–80% lower than reference drugs see better payer support and patient access.
- Manufacturing Scalability: Companies with efficient biologics manufacturing capabilities can better manage margins and pricing pressures.
- Market Access & Reimbursement: Strong relationships with insurers and PBMs improve formulary inclusion and coverage.
- Low Competition Niches: Targeting underserved therapeutic areas like neurology or rare conditions reduces direct competition and price erosion.

Strategic Outlook: What Lies Ahead
The biosimilars revolution is unfolding rapidly, with key implications for the pharmaceutical ecosystem:
- Wider interchangeability designations will accelerate substitution and reshape prescribing habits.
- New therapeutic areas, especially neurology and rare diseases, offer untapped potential for first movers.
- Greater public and provider education, backed by real-world evidence, will close perception gaps and build trust.
- Payer-driven incentives and national procurement programs will increasingly favor biosimilars for cost savings.
- Manufacturing innovation, including AI-driven biologics process optimization, will lower production costs and enable pricing flexibility.

Conclusion: Biosimilars—No Longer Optional, But Essential
The biosimilars market is no longer a secondary channel; it is a driving force in global health economics. With rapidly growing pipelines, expanding indications, and strong regulatory tailwinds, biosimilars are positioned to offer sustainable, high-quality treatment options to millions worldwide.

From oncology to endocrinology, and from autoimmune diseases to rare disorders, biosimilars are not just leveling the playing field—they’re redrawing it entirely.

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Sai Kumar
DataM Intelligence 4market Research LLP
+1 877-441-4866
sai.k@datamintelligence.com
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