Economic impact of biosimilar drugs in Italy: past, present and future of infliximab and etanercept

Economic impact of biosimilar drugs in Italy: past, present and future of infliximab and etanerceptPurposeThe objective of this study is to estimate the impact of the Anti-TNF monoclonal antibodies that are currently approved in Italy (etanercept ed infliximab) on healthcare expenditure between 2014 and 2020.MethodsThe prediction model was developed considering the standard unit consumption and equivalent patients from IMS database. Drug costs were calculated using official hospital reimbursement prices reported by the Italian Pharmaceutical Agency. By analysing the number of treated patients between 2014 and 2016, clinical experts develop three alternative scenarios and provide estimating the number of patients that they expect to treat during the next 4 years with biosimilars or originator in Italy.ResultsConsidering the number of standard units dispensed each year, the model estimated a total number of 28.000 patient/year that are treated with infliximab or etanercept (28% for AR, 17% for psoriasis, 26% for psoriatic arthritis, 18% for IBD and 11% for other indications). In 2020, drugs expenditure is expected to decline between €42 and €90 billion as compared to 2014, (12% and 26% of total spending in 2014 respectively). Overall, the cumulative savings are estimated between €132 and €296 billions.ConclusionsThe estimated savings may constitute an economic resource that could be re-invested for achieving improvements within the healthcare system.