Samsung Report: Biosimilars Struggle in Immunology, Succeed in Oncology

As AbbVie continues its efforts to maintain a leading market position for Humira (adalimumab) amidst mounting competition, a recent report from Samsung Bioepis indicates that the immunology market may pose challenges for biosimilars. This sector traditionally exhibits quicker adoption rates in oncology and ophthalmology. Despite facing an unprecedented number of competitors, Humira retained 82% of its market share as of May, a notable decline from the 95% share it held just two months earlier. This erosion in market share is partially attributed to CVS Caremark's decision in January to replace Humira with biosimilar alternatives, marking a significant shift by a major pharmacy benefit manager (PBM).

Following CVS's move, Sandoz’s Hyrimoz gained substantial traction after being added to CVS's formularies in place of Humira. Since then, Hyrimoz has captured around 10% of the market, while other adalimumab biosimilars have only managed to secure marginal shares. Buoyed by Sandoz's success, Boehringer Ingelheim also sought to capitalize on the evolving market. In May, the German pharmaceutical company signed a deal to produce its interchangeable biosimilar, Cyltezo, for Quallent Pharmaceuticals, a distributor owned by Cigna. This agreement came shortly after Boehringer Ingelheim revamped its sales team in response to lower-than-anticipated uptake of its biosimilar.

Samsung's report categorized biosimilars into two groups based on their market performance in the US: those with rapid uptake and those with slower penetration. Biosimilars of three oncology drugs—Rituxan (rituximab), Avastin (bevacizumab), and Herceptin (trastuzumab)—were identified as experiencing quick market adoption, achieving an average market share of 75% within three years of their launch. Additionally, Cimerli, a biosimilar of the ophthalmology drug Lucentis (ranibizumab), has shown promising uptake since its launch in October 2022, capturing about 44% of sales.

Conversely, biosimilars for Remicade (infliximab), Epogen (epoetin alfa), and insulin glargine products have seen slower market penetration. Humira biosimilars, despite being relatively new to the market, appear to be following a similar slow adoption trajectory. AbbVie's ability to retain a significant market share suggests that its ten competitors might also eventually fall into this slower-growing category.

However, Samsung notes the evolution in biosimilar adoption as the market matures. Remicade biosimilars, for instance, despite an initial slow uptake, now hold nearly 50% of the market share. This indicates that while initial adoption may be sluggish, long-term market penetration can improve as familiarity and confidence in biosimilars grow.

The dynamics in the biosimilar market, particularly within the immunology sector, underscore the complexities of market adoption and the critical role of strategic decisions by PBMs and pharmaceutical companies. As more biosimilars enter the market, their success will likely depend on a combination of competitive pricing, strategic partnerships, and effective market positioning. AbbVie's experience with Humira serves as a pertinent example of how established biologics can retain market dominance despite the influx of competitive biosimilar products.