Three years after the first biosimilar launched in the US, the market has failed to deliver notable return on investments. Some players like Mylan are going public with frustrations over market barriers, while others, like Amgen, say they are encouraged by steady progress. Teva, however, is limiting its investment in biosimilars.

European biosimilar market penetration varies widely across the EU member states and disease groups, with different government policies on promotion, purchasing and communication leading to mistrust. The European Commission is looking to boost confidence in biosimilars to support their uptake on a much wider scale across Europe, and to get a bird's eye view of what is driving or hindering the EU market for biosimilars.

The British Generic Manufacturers Association has become the latest pharmaceutical trade body to set up a dedicated sector group to promote the use of biosimilar medicines, following a similar move by Medicines for Europe, which represents national generic associations across Europe.