The Cost Saving Power of Generic Equivalents in Specialty Infusion Medications

Specialty infusion drugs are some of the most expensive treatments in healthcare. For many health plans and employers, they drive a disproportionate share of pharmacy and medical costs, even though they serve a relatively small patient population.

One way to manage this growing expense? Generic and biosimilar equivalents, which are lower-cost versions of brand-name therapies that deliver the same clinical results at a fraction of the price.

What Are Generic and Biosimilar Equivalents?

Generic equivalents are identical copies of small-molecule drugs, while biosimilars are near-identical versions of complex biologic therapies, many of which are delivered by infusion.

Both go through rigorous FDA approval to ensure they match the safety, quality, and effectiveness of the original drug. The reason they are so much cheaper is that they don’t require the same costly research and clinical trials as the original drug. For this reason, they open the door to meaningful cost savings without compromising care.

Recent Examples Making an Impact

Several high-cost infusion drugs now have generic or biosimilar competition, helping to bend the cost curve:

• Remicade → Inflectra: A biosimilar for inflammatory conditions like Crohn’s and rheumatoid arthritis, often priced at nearly half the cost of Remicade.
  Remicade AWP – $1,148 per 100mg injection
  Inflectra AWP – $932 per 100mg injection
• Herceptin → Kanjinti: A biosimilar for HER2-positive breast cancer, expanding access to life-saving therapy.
  Herceptin AWP – $1,530 per 150mg injection
  Kanjinti AWP – $1,300 per 150mg injection
• Avastin → Mvasi: A cancer therapy biosimilar offering similar efficacy at a reduced cost.
  Avastin AWP – $786 per 25mg
  Mvasi AWP – $689 per 25mg

These launches are part of a growing pipeline expected to deliver billions in healthcare savings over the next decade.

Benefits for Patients and Health Plans

For patients: Generic and biosimilar equivalents make lifesaving and life-changing therapies more affordable and accessible. Lower price points often translate to reduced co-pays and coinsurance, easing the financial burden on families. In some cases, this can be the difference between starting treatment on time and delaying it due to cost concerns. More competition in the market can also lead to greater availability across infusion centers and even home infusion options, helping patients receive care in the setting that works best for them.

For health plans and employers: Specialty infusion medications represent one of the fastest-growing areas of healthcare spending. Introducing generics and biosimilars creates multiple levers for cost savings:

• Direct drug cost reductions
• Improved negotiating power with manufacturers
• Opportunities for value-based care arrangements where payment aligns with patient outcomes.

Over time, this can reduce the overall risk exposure for health plans and employers while supporting long-term sustainability of benefits programs.

Why the Right Partner Matters

As with any specialty drug strategy, success depends on execution. The right partner can help identify the best opportunities for generic and biosimilar adoption, navigate complex benefit designs and reimbursement rules, and ensure seamless support for both patients and providers as they transition to new therapies.

Generic and biosimilar equivalents are reshaping the specialty infusion market, making high-cost therapies more affordable and accessible. But unlocking their full potential requires expertise, coordination, and a partner who knows the terrain.

At Golden Triangle Specialty Network, we help health plans and employers capture savings while keeping patient care front and center.