The Biosimilars Opportunity: Expanding Access and Affordability

As specialty-drug costs rise, biosimilars are giving employers new ways to make advanced treatments more affordable, improving access to care and helping employees stay healthier and more productive.

Rising drug costs and the search for sustainable solutions

Affordability is now one of the biggest barriers to care worldwide. In Cigna Healthcare’s 2025 International Health Study, 13% of respondents globally said they needed medication but did not access it due to cost, with women disproportionately affected [1]. These barriers influence population health, productivity and overall vitality.

At the same time, specialty-drug costs continue to rise across markets, placing pressure on employers and health systems. Organisations everywhere are facing a growing challenge: how to provide employees with effective therapies without driving healthcare spend unsustainably upward.

Biosimilars offer a practical way forward. They deliver the same therapeutic outcomes as originator biologics but at a significantly lower cost, increasing competition, expanding access and making advanced treatments more sustainable at scale. As global healthcare evolves, affordability, equity and access, not innovation alone, are becoming the measures that define real progress.

Understanding biosimilars and their impact on access and affordability

Biologic medicines have transformed treatment of complex, chronic conditions such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders and diabetes. But because they are made from living cells and protected by long patents, they are expensive to produce, difficult to manufacture and often inaccessible to many patients. 

Biosimilars are medicines developed to work in the same way as an originator biologic, with the same safety profile, clinical effect and therapeutic outcomes, but typically at a lower cost. Unlike generics, they are not identical chemical copies; instead, they undergo rigorous regulatory testing and comparative review to confirm they deliver equivalent results [4].

This is innovation with purpose: using scientific and manufacturing expertise to create healthy market competition and ensure more people can benefit from life-changing therapies.

For employers, biosimilars offer a way to expand access to high-value treatments while managing budget pressures and supporting long-term workforce well-being.

Demonstrated value: effectiveness, access, and cost savings

Across global markets, the evidence is consistent: biosimilars deliver the same therapeutic outcomes as originator biologics while expanding access and lowering costs for patients, employers and health systems.

Clinically proven and safe

Years of global clinical trials and real-world use show that biosimilars are just as safe and effective as originator biologics. International regulators, supported by findings from Evernorth and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), confirm that patients switching to biosimilars experience the same health outcomes as those staying on the originator drug [2].

These insights give employers confidence that greater affordability does not require compromising on quality.

Improving access while lowering costs

The affordability impact is meaningful worldwide. Biosimilars generated $26.7 billion in global sales in 2023, growing at a 21% CAGR since 2019, a clear sign of accelerating adoption and trust [8]. The World Health Organization also highlights that biosimilars help reduce cost barriers and make biologic therapies more accessible in both high-income and lower-income countries [9].

They also make a practical difference for patients. In markets where members pay coinsurance, biosimilars can reduce out-of-pocket costs. And in countries where originator biologics are limited or unavailable, biosimilars help ensure people can still access the treatment they need.

For employers, biosimilars provide a way to manage rising specialty-drug spend, while maintaining high-quality care. In several therapy areas, they can reduce the cost of biologics by up to 80%, creating room to reinvest in mental health programmes, chronic-disease support, prevention and other initiatives that strengthen workforce well-being and productivity [2].

Across markets, the pattern is clear: biosimilars expand access, increase competition and deliver sustainable savings, making them a key lever for high-value, future-ready health benefits design. 

Global adoption: lessons from around the world

Biosimilars are transforming access and affordability across global health systems. Europe leads the way, Asia-Pacific is expanding quickly, and the U.S. is now accelerating. Together, these markets show how biosimilars can support more sustainable and accessible care worldwide.

Europe: the global leader

Europe remains the most mature biosimilar market, accounting for more than half of global use. Denmark’s mandatory switching policies have created some of the world’s highest uptake levels, while NHS England saved £1.2 billion in three years, including £400 million from Humira biosimilar use alone [9].

Asia-Pacific: expansion driven by national policy

Countries such as Japan, Australia, South Korea and India use national tendering, reimbursement mechanisms and clinician-education programmes to drive adoption. These strategies reduce cost barriers, strengthen trust and improve availability across large population groups [3].

United States: accelerating momentum

The U.S. entered the biosimilars market later but is quickly gaining pace. Following recent launches, analysts project biosimilar adoption could contribute to $181 billion in savings by 2027, reflecting growing confidence and competitive pricing [5].

A unified global picture

Across regions, the conclusion is consistent: biosimilars expand access, generate meaningful savings, and help employers deliver more affordable, equitable care for their people.

The employer opportunity: putting biosimilars into practice

As global adoption accelerates, employers are beginning to realise the same benefits within their own health strategies. Many are already taking concrete steps to expand access and manage rising pharmacy costs more sustainably. In fact, over half of large employers (52%) now prefer biosimilars within their coverage and clinical pathways; 31% are revising contracts to better support biosimilar adoption, and 30% are investing in employee and clinician education to build trust and awareness [7].

To build on this momentum, employers can focus on four practical actions:

1. Prefer biosimilars within coverage and care pathways
   Clearly highlight biosimilars within your health plan so employees and clinicians can easily see when a lower-cost, clinically equivalent option is available.
2. Integrate biosimilars into benefit structures across markets
   Ensure affordable alternatives are accessible in regions with coinsurance, buy-and-claim systems or varied coverage frameworks. If your health plan includes coverage in the United States, biosimilars should be included on the formulary to avoid access barriers.
3. Educate employees and clinicians
   Build confidence in safety, therapeutic equivalence and switching through clear communication and trusted evidence.
4. Reinvest savings strategically
   Redirect reduced pharmacy spend into well-being, prevention, chronic-condition support and other initiatives that build workforce resilience.

By taking these steps, employers can improve affordability, expand access and strengthen long-term workforce health across global markets.

Cigna Healthcare’s global perspective on affordability and access

Affordability and access are central to Cigna Healthcare’s mission across global markets. Biosimilars help advance this commitment by reducing financial barriers and widening availability of proven therapies, enabling employers to deliver sustainable, high-quality care [6].

“Biosimilars have the potential to transform access to essential medicines worldwide. By offering clinically effective alternatives at lower costs, Employers can help reduce barriers for patients and improve equity in care - ensuring more people receive the treatments they need, wherever they are.”

- Cara Acklin, Senior Clinical Pharmacist, Cigna Healthcare International Health

International realities and opportunities

In many international markets where pharmacy benefits operate on a “pay-and-claim” basis, biosimilars can significantly ease out-of-pocket costs for members. Cigna International Health has also seen cases where originator biologics were delayed or unavailable in certain assignment countries; biosimilars can bridge these gaps and ensure uninterrupted access to essential treatment.

Alignment with Cigna Healthcare’s Vitality framework

By lowering costs and broadening access, biosimilars align with Cigna Healthcare’s commitment to create a better future built on the vitality of individuals, connecting affordability with whole-person well-being, productivity and sustainable workforce health.

“At Cigna Healthcare, we view biosimilars as a vital step toward affordable, equitable access to advanced therapies, innovation that truly serves people.”

- Dr. Stella George, Chief Medical Officer, International Health

Shaping a more affordable, accessible future

As biosimilars continue to advance globally, employers have a unique opportunity to lead the transition toward more sustainable, inclusive healthcare. By embracing biosimilars today, organisations can improve access to essential therapies, strengthen employee vitality and unlock long-term value for their workforce.

To explore how Cigna Healthcare can help you design a globally relevant, cost-effective biosimilar strategy, visit International Health Insurance & Global Medical Cover | Cigna Healthcare

Sources

1. Cigna Healthcare International Health - https://www.cignaglobal.com/global-well-being-and-vitality (2025)
2. Evernorth Research Institute - https://www.evernorth.com/articles/pharmacy-in-focus-biosimilar-breakthrough (2025)
3. OECD - https://www.oecd.org/health/pharmaceuticals/biosimilars.htm  (2025)
4. Express Scripts Pharmacy - https://www.express-scripts.com/pharmacy/blog/generics-vs-biosimilars-what-are-they-and-how-are-they-different (2024)
5. IQVIA - https://www.iqvia.com/insights/the-iqvia-institute/reports-and-publications/reports/biosimilars-in-the-united-states-2023-2027 (2023)
6. The Cigna Group - https://newsroom.thecignagroup.com/healthy-growth-investor-day-2022 (2022)
7. Business Group on Health - https://businessgrouphealth.org/en/resources/2026-employer-health-care-strategy-survey (2026)
8. World Health Organization - https://www.who.int/news/item/13-02-2025-biosimilars--expanding-access-to-essential-biologic-therapies (2025)
9. NHS England - https://www.england.nhs.uk/2022/09/nhs-saves-1-2bn-in-drive-to-switch-to-cheaper-medicines (2022)