BioSim Proposes Incorporating Measures Into Electoral Programs To Promote Biosimilar Medicines

• The Association proposes measures on public procurement, incentives for use, national monitoring and industrial capacity to be incorporated into electoral programs.
• A comprehensive approach that ranges from value-based public procurement to national utilization monitoring, including manufacturing incentives, and aims to cover the entire drug supply chain.

Ahead of the November 29th elections, the Spanish Association of Biosimilar Medicines (BioSim) is presenting political parties with a proposal of measures for inclusion in their electoral programs for the next legislature. The aim is to consolidate the role of biosimilars as a tool to improve the sustainability of the National Health System (NHS), promote equitable access to biological treatments for patients, and strengthen Spain's industrial and biotechnological capacity.

Twenty years of experience and results for the healthcare system
BioSim's proposal is backed by two decades of experience with these medicines in Europe and Spain. Since their arrival on the European market in 2006, biosimilars have demonstrated their quality, safety, and efficacy, their contribution to the sustainability of the healthcare system, and their expansion of access to biological treatments. Their use, initially concentrated in areas such as endocrinology and nephrology, has progressively extended to other specialties, such as oncology, rheumatology, neurology, and ophthalmology, consolidating their role as a therapeutic alternative.

Their contribution to the efficiency of public pharmaceutical spending is supported by solid data. Based on actual consumption volumes and procurement prices in tenders, the Association estimates that these medicines generated direct savings of approximately €2.400B for public administrations during 2025.^[1]Compared to an estimated 700 million euros spent by the National Health System (NHS) on biosimilars—according to data from the Ministry of Finance—the direct return reaches four euros in savings for every euro invested. This economic impact is accompanied by healthcare benefits. The availability of biosimilar alternatives has contributed to expanding access to biological treatments and advancing their use by up to 19 months from the initial diagnosis, making it possible for more patients to benefit from these therapies.^[2].

For BioSim, these results justify giving biosimilars a prominent place in the pharmaceutical policies of the next legislature, not only as an instrument of budgetary efficiency, but also as a way to improve access to treatments, make better use of available resources and boost the biotechnology industry in our country.

Value-based public procurement and policies that promote its use
One of BioSim's main areas of focus is promoting policies that consider public procurement as a strategic tool. This priority is especially relevant, as 90% of biosimilar consumption in Spain is concentrated in hospitals, where tenders have a decisive influence.

In the words of its CEO, Encarna Cruz: “Public procurement of medicines must stop focusing exclusively on price and recognize the value that treatments provide throughout the entire care process. Biosimilars are an investment in health: they allow more patients to access biological treatments sooner and, together with incremental innovations that facilitate their administration and promote adherence, contribute to improving health outcomes and using healthcare resources more efficiently. It's not just about how much a medicine costs, but about everything it provides to the patient and the healthcare system.”

The Association also advocates a comprehensive approach to biosimilars policies that, beyond public procurement, includes incentives for their use—such as profit-sharing models, widely implemented in Europe and with sufficient evidence for their application—and educational activities for healthcare professionals and patients. These initiatives are essential to strengthening confidence in biosimilars and promoting their integration into new therapeutic areas, thereby consolidating their use and maximizing their value to the healthcare system.

Strengthening the biotechnology industry and strategic autonomy
BioSim's proposal also incorporates an industrial dimension. Spain has two industrial production plants for biosimilar medicines, located in León and Granada, which export to international markets and contribute to generating skilled employment, economic activity, and production capacity.

“The ability to produce biosimilars in Spain is an opportunity to strengthen our biotechnology sector and reduce vulnerabilities in the drug supply. To take advantage of it, we need coordinated health and industrial policies that promote competitive and sustainable production capacity,” says Joaquín Rodrigo, president of BioSim.

A concrete proposal for electoral programs
BioSim offers its collaboration to political parties and public administrations to develop these proposals during the next legislature and contribute to improving access to biological treatments, the efficiency of the NHS and the resilience of the supply chain.

^[1] https://www.biosim.es/documentos/Impacto-presupuestario-biosimilares-2020-2030.pdf

^[2] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14712598.2024.2350440