The study shows the Filgrastim -Spar potential with biosimilars

In 2023, more than 223 billion US dollars were spent on cancer medication worldwide, and this is expected to put 409 billion dollars in the shade in 2028.¹

A simulated study from Saudi -Arabia examined a single medication for the treatment of neutropenia, filgrastim (new pogs; amgen) and substitution with its biosimilar pegfilgrastim (Udencya; Coherus) in order to determine the potential savings in a group of 4,000 patients via 6 chemotherapy attempts.² In the study, the savings amounted to almost 3 million US dollars, which enabled additional support for 9244 patients. Compared to the reference, the use of the biosimilar saves up to $ 12 million and enabled supportive care of more than 32,000 patients.²

With a population ten times as high as in Saudi Arabia, the United States could save an exponentially larger number with the acceptance of more biosimilars. With only 1 biosimilar of a total of 15 million US dollars, pharmacists should check larger oncology medication classes for further savings. Biosimilars offer an inexpensive treatment method that increases access to the treatment of more patients at the same time, and the substitution of biosimilar by other biologics can offer significant savings on a larger scale.²

However, the selection of a biosimilar requires the addition to a wording by a pharmacy and therapeutic committee (P&T). With so many products for a variety of prices, choosing a biosimilar can be difficult. Factors such as regulatory approval, availability and substitution skills must be selected as a biosimilar. The introduction of guidelines that promote the selection of biosimilars and emergency plans in the event of an interruption of the supply chain can rationalize the selection process. In the event that the copyright and biosimilar products are available at 1 location, proper storage is of crucial importance to prevent the accidental administration of the wrong medication.

It requires a proper training of the entire pharmacy staff to gather trust and sensible changes in order to save millions and patients. While adding a biosimilar to formulas can feel like a discouraging task, formula management teams should take the initiative to add suitable biosimilars to reduce patient costs and increase institutional savings.

References

1. Global oncology trends 2024: outlook until 2028. IQvia. May 28, 2024. Access on July 18, 2025.

2. Khan Ma, Abu Esba LC, Yousef CC, et al. Practical challenges and considerations in the introduction of biosimilar in clinical practice in oncology within a large health system. Expert overview of clinical pharmacology. 2024; 18 (6): 323-331. DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2025.2492063