Sustainability of costs of novel biologicals: Are we all heading for bankruptcy?

Abstract

In November 2019, Karolinska hospital announced plans to cut some 600 medical posts (350 nurses and 250 physicians), in addition to already laying off 550 administrative staff earlier last year, all in an attempt to plug a hole of SEK1.6bn (£128 m; €150 m; $165 m) in the hospital's budget for 2019. 1 In Italy, 18 out of 20 regions spent more on healthcare than was budgeted in 2016, while in the UK, NHS' drugs bills were 33.7% higher in 2017 compared to 2010, with an average annual growth rate of 4.1% in the past 3 years. 2,3

Safety, Immunogenicity and Interchangeability of Biosimilar Monoclonal Antibodies and Fusion Proteins: A Regulatory Perspective

“…Copies of original biologicals and biosimilars have lowered the costs and increased access to biologicals throughout the EU [ 8 ]; thus, biosimilars have the potential to support the sustainability of modern pharmacotherapy [ 7 , 9 – 11 ]. The first biosimilar mAb, infliximab (Remsima/Inflectra), was approved for the EU market in 2013.…”

Spotlight commentary: Navigating between financial risks and improved treatment outcomes with immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients: The need for biomarker identification and dose optimization

“…The globally rising drug prices have been brought forth by patent established monopolies, unanticipated consequences of drug registration laws and reimbursement policies as well as market forces 9 . Likic, 10 in his recent editorial, proposed that modern health care standard of care practices, particularly in oncology, are gradually becoming unaffordable, even for developed countries, as drug costs increases percentwise outpace the rise in national gross domestic products.…”