From "Musty Towel" To "Golden Age:" Biosimilars In 2021 And Beyond

By Anna Rose Welch, Editorial & Community Director, Advancing RNA

In 2019, the biosimilar industry was confronted with a nightmare. A prominent healthcare KOL had authored several high-profile editorials arguing it was time to “throw in the towel” on the U.S. biosimilar market. In fact, in my column for the 2020 Life Science Leader Outlook issue, several experts passionately disagreed, unpacking the many reasons why it was premature to dismiss biosimilars as valuable cost-lowering tools.

Fast forward through 2020: We have officially said goodbye to the musty towel and are now celebrating analysts’ reports on The Booming Biosimilars Market and headlines declaring 2020 “The Golden Age of Biosimilars.” A new IQVIA report titled Biosimilars in the U.S. 2020-2024 bolstered spirits even more, proclaiming that biosimilars are poised to save the U.S. healthcare system $100 billion in the next five years.