A situational analysis of the adoption of oncology, inflammation, and supportive care biosimilars in the United States

The rapid development and approval of biosimilars in the US offer a critical opportunity to improve the affordability and accessibility of biologic therapies. This targeted literature review was conducted using PubMed to examine the broad impact of biosimilars on the US health system, focusing on payers, healthcare professionals, and patients within oncology and inflammatory disease settings. Literature published between 1 January 2016, and 1 December 2024, was analyzed. Existing research primarily addresses clinical equivalence to reference biologics and safety of switching, with a paucity in data demonstrating broader patient population benefits of biosimilars. Cost savings from biosimilars are described, but there is a lack of evidence that these savings translate into improved access or earlier use of biologics, or whether budgetary reallocations enable access to other innovative treatments. While biosimilars are expected to reduce spending and expand treatment options, data on their extended stability and real-world outcomes are scarce. In conclusion, biosimilars offer potential to reduce healthcare costs and improve access to biologic therapies. Further research is needed to fully establish their holistic benefits across patient populations. This would enable a better understanding of how biosimilar adoption influences real-world treatment access, clinical and system-wide outcomes.