Dr Ken Cohen Speaks on the Impact of Market Power on Biosimilar Uptake

Ken Cohen, MD, director of translational research for Optum Care, speaks on the future of more biosimilars hitting the market, and how they will influence value-based care.

Transcript

As more and more biosimilars are hitting the market, how is the approach to biosimilars changing? And how will the approach of prescribing a biologic versus a biosimilar change?

Being able to differentiate between biosimilars won't be possible, because large [randomized controlled trials] for each of those biosimilars have not been done in head-to-head comparative fashion. There is recognition that the clinical efficacy of those is equivalent and, therefore, it will come back to market powers in terms of cost and availability.

There will be gaming of the system where the branded agents will try to leverage formulary placement with access to their other drugs and other things that pharma has done over the years to try to protect branded agents. I think in a value-based world, you make the best decision based on the individual cost effectiveness of a single product. Over time, I think that will create the landscape where biosimilars can gain footing and ultimately decrease cost of care for patients.