In an ever-evolving pharmaceutical market, biosimilar drugs have gained prominence by offering more effective alternatives in the treatment of oncological, endocrine, and angiological conditions oncological, endocrine, and angiological conditions.
In 2023, biosimilar drugs achieved significant sales growth, reflecting a change in the healthcare landscape. Recent data shows that 891,935,000 units of biosimilars were sold, corresponding to a 43.07% increase over the previous year.
According to Tiago de Moraes Vicente, CEO of PróGenéricos, this growth reflects the demand for more treatment options for various medical conditions. “As the market continues to grow, the availability of personalized treatments promises to further benefit patients and the healthcare system as a whole,” he says.
Top 10 best-selling biosimilars in Brazil:
Insulin glargine
Enoxaparin sodium
Somatropin
Rituximab
Trastuzumab
Adalimumab
Filgrastim
Infliximab
Etanercept
Pegfilgrastim
Data provided by IQVIA, a company specializing in healthcare research, which conducts surveys on units of medication sold throughout the year.
Among the best sellers in Brazil, three stand out for their relevance and sales volume:
Insulin Glargine: used in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, insulin glargine is an important biosimilar for patients who need prolonged glycemic control.
Recently, the IBGE released the results of the 2022 Census, revealing that Brazil's population is 203,080,756 people. Based on this number, the estimated number of people with diabetes in the country would be approximately 20 million. This is in line with data from the latest Vigitel, a sample survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, which showed a rate of 10.2% of self-reported diabetes diagnoses among the 27 capitals surveyed.
Enoxaparin Sodium: this anticoagulant is used to prevent and treat thrombosis.
According to the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery (SBACV), between January 2012 and August 2023, more than 400,000 Brazilians were hospitalized for treatment of venous thrombosis. In the first eight months of 2023, about 165 people were hospitalized daily as a result of this condition.
Somatropin: a growth hormone used to treat growth disorders in children and hormone deficiencies in adults.
Biosimilar somatropin is crucial for patients who need growth therapy or hormone deficiency treatment, highlighting the importance of these drugs in the management of endocrine conditions.
“The expectation is that the biosimilars market will continue to expand, driven by innovation and the need for affordable treatments. The trend is for more drugs to be approved and offered as biosimilars, contributing to greater democratization of healthcare,” explains the president.
Although growth is promising, there are challenges, such as the need for more education about biosimilars and overcoming regulatory barriers. The continued development of policies and educational initiatives can help maximize the benefits of these drugs.