SANDOZ, a biosimilar and generic medicines company, is marking Global Biosimilars Week (GBW) by highlighting the growing impact of biosimilars on healthcare worldwide.
Despite their advantages, data shows biosimilar uptake in Australia remains among the lowest in the OECD, with usage rates under 25%, compared to more than 90% in countries like the UK, Netherlands, and Denmark.
Sandoz Australia and New Zealand's General Manager, Clint Holland (pictured), said, "we are dedicated to improving access to high-quality, affordable medicines".
"Biosimilar medicines play a crucial role in this mission by providing more treatment options for patients and helping to reduce healthcare costs.
"Our portfolio of biosimilar medicines spans a range of therapeutic areas, including oncology and immunology, ensuring that patients have access to life-saving treatments."
Marnie Peterson, CEO of the Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association, noted that biosimilars are essential to make advanced therapies accessible as the cost of biologics climbs.
"Biosimilars offer innovation and an affordable pathway to high-quality treatments," Peterson said, especially for patients with chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
She encouraged stakeholders to support efforts to increase biosimilar use in Australia.
Holland commented, "we are proud to be at the forefront of this movement, supporting a more sustainable healthcare system and being part of wider conversations to further support the uptake of biosimilar medicines to create greater access".
"Together, we are making a significant impact on global healthcare," he added.
The company estimates its biosimilar treatments have saved over US$18 billion (A$17 billion) in healthcare costs across the US and Europe, with a social impact of around US$400 billion (A$606 billion) globally.
Furthermore, to celebrate GBW, Sandoz and Slovenia's Ministry of Economic Development and Technology hosted an event in Brussels, showcasing the company's European manufacturing biosimilars production capacity. JG
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