Boosting Biosimilar Use in Osteoporosis: Why HCP Education Matters

The latest IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science report highlighted a crucial challenge for the biosimilar industry: bridging the knowledge gaps among health care professionals (HCPs) to unlock the full potential of these cost-efficient alternatives.¹ This came as the industry continued its robust trajectory, driving significant cost savings and expanding patient access to critical biologic therapies. While the industry keeps growing fast, helping more patients access important biologic therapies and saving billions in health care costs (with Europe on track to save €56 billion by July 2024),² there's still a noticeable gap in awareness.¹

Osteoporosis is a chronic condition chracterized by weakened bones that affects 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men aged 50 years and older. | Image credit: eddows - stock.adobe.com

“In 2023, IQVIA Institute published a report highlighting the importance of physician perspectives on biosimilars for their optimal utilization. This viewpoint continues to remain relevant, particularly as biosimilars enter new disease areas, including ones that involve complex interactions with a broad set of healthcare professionals. In such cases, different physician groups within a disease area may have varied experience with biosimilars. Ensuring that all groups are comfortable with and have knowledge about biosimilars is crucial to continue to gain the benefits from these biosimilars,” wrote Murray Aitken, executive director of the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, in the report’s introduction.

One area that illustrates this awareness gap is osteoporosis, a chronic condition that affects 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men 50 years and older.³ Biosimilars have already shown that they can save money and help more people get the treatment they need, with a 2024 report showing that they have contributed to 6.9 billion more patient treatment days across the European Union since their introduction.² With many more biosimilars expected to launch across different conditions in the next 6 years, there’s a real opportunity to expand their impact. But as the new IQVIA report pointed out, that hinges on making health care providers more familiar—and comfortable—with using them.¹

Managing osteoporosis involves a range of providers, from general practitioners to specialists like rheumatologists and endocrinologists, making coordination and shared knowledge essential. In a survey of 266 European health care professionals, 73% agreed that biosimilars offer similar safety, efficacy, and cost benefits. Still, there was a clear disconnect: general practitioners (GPs) and traumatologists were much less likely to be involved in prescribing biosimilars, and only 5% of GPs showed strong awareness of what’s currently available, let alone what’s in the pipeline. It’s a sharp reminder that without broader HCP engagement, even the best biosimilar can fall short of its potential.

Implications for the Biosimilar Industry

For the biosimilar industry, these findings could represent a call to action. While the potential for substantial savings is estimated at over €998 million in osteoporosis care alone between 2025 and 2030, the success of biosimilars in this space could hinge on overcoming these awareness deficits. The report emphasized that a lack of experience among certain HCPs, particularly those in primary care who often served as the initial point of contact for osteoporosis patients, directly impeded optimal biosimilar uptake.

The path forward, as outlined by the IQVIA Institute, involved a multipronged strategy. This included proactive sharing of best practices across health care systems, timely updates to clinical guidelines that explicitly incorporated biosimilar usage, and dedicated HCP education initiatives. Furthermore, supportive policy frameworks that incentivized biosimilar prescribing and streamlined their integration into formularies were essential.

As new biosimilars continued to gain regulatory approval and enter the market, the industry's success increasingly depended on its ability to cultivate a well-informed and confident prescriber base. The insights from this osteoporosis-focused report served as a powerful reminder that while the science and economics of biosimilars were compelling, the human element—specifically, HCP awareness and comfort—remained the critical differentiator for realizing their full market potential.

The authors concluded that “biosimilar sustainability continues to be a crucial part of ensuring optimal patient care in a healthcare system. Biosimilar markets need to ensure that appropriate incentives exist for all stakeholders to participate, thereby allowing the healthcare system to reap the benefits of biosimilar entry.”

References

1. Unlocking biosimilar potential: learnings from an osteoporosis case study of complex patient pathways. IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science. May 29, 2025. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://www.iqvia.com/insights/the-iqvia-institute/reports-and-publications/reports/unlocking-biosimilar-potential-2025

2. The impact of biosimilar competition in Europe 2024. IQVIA. January 24, 2025. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://www.iqvia.com/library/white-papers/the-impact-of-biosimilar-competition-in-europe-2024

3. Non-pharmacological management of osteoporosis: a consensus of the Belgian Bone Club. Osteoporos Int. 2011;22(11):2769-2788. doi:10.1007/s00198-011-1545-x