title: Biosimilar granulocyte colony-stimulating factor uptakes in the EU-5 markets: a descriptive analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biosimilars are copies of biological reference medicines. Unlike generics (copies of chemical molecules), biologics are complex, expensive and complicated to produce. The knowledge of the factors affecting the competition following patent expiry for biologics remains limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to analyse the EU-5 Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) markets and to determine the factors affecting the G-CSF biosimilar uptakes, particularly that of biosimilar prices relative to originators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on medicine volumes, values, and ex-manufacturer prices for all G-CSF categories were provided by IMS Health. Volumes were calculated in defined daily doses (DDD) and prices in Euros per DDD. In the EU-5 countries, there is 5 years of experience with biosimilar G-CSFs (2007-2011).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two G-CSF market profiles exist: (1) countries with a high retail market distribution, which are the largest G-CSF markets with low global G-CSF biosimilar uptakes (5.4% in France and 8.5% in Germany in 2011); and (2) countries with a dominant hospital channel, which are the smallest markets with higher G-CSF biosimilar uptakes (12.4% in Spain and 20.4% in the UK). The more the decisions are decentralized, the more their uptakes are high. The price difference between G-CSF biosimilars and their reference plays a marginal role at a global level (price differences of +13.3% in the UK and -20.4% in France).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The competition with G-CSF biosimilars varies significantly between EU-5 countries, probably because of G-CSF distribution channel differences. Currently, this competition is not mainly based on prices, but on local political options to stimulate tendering between them and recently branded second- or third-generation products.
authors.affiliation: Dauphine University, Paris, France, francois.bocquet@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bocquet
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paubel
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fusier
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cordonnier
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Pen
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sinègre
mesh_terms: D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004345:Drug Industry; D005062:European Union / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor